Eitan Nave

Son of Walter and Clara. Born on the 10th of Sivan 5704 (1.6.1944) in the cooperative moshav Moledet (Bnei Brit). His parents, who came from Germany, are farmers in Moshav Moledet. He studied at the elementary school in the moshav. As a son of the moshav's founders he was devoted to his home, and after finishing his studies he followed in his parents' path. He had an extraordinary gift for every kind of farm work, and because he became foremost in every task he took on, he was in great demand in all branches of the farm. He was especially attached to work with heavy machinery and was considered an expert with the tractor. He was distinguished by cheerfulness, alertness and initiative, and he was as his name was: Eitan. He was honest with himself and with others, and he said everything that was in his heart, even when it caused him harm.

He was drafted into the IDF in February 1962 and volunteered for the Paratroopers Corps, but after about seven months he had to undergo an operation on his leg, and parachuting was forbidden to him. Since his medical profile was lowered, Eitan moved to the Nahal outpost of Almagor. There too he was known as the address for every case of rescuing a vehicle stuck in the mud. There he met his future wife, and he set up his home in Moledet, where his son was also born. He completed his service at Almagor, and when he was discharged from regular service he was called up to the colors for reserve duty. He served in the reserves in the Six-Day War as well. During the period of alert he prepared his wife for what might happen, asking her in one of his letters to take care of their son. In his last letter he wrote: "We are about to go out, we the paratroopers... ready for any order that will be given to us and waiting for the decisive moment. We will not disgrace the firm. There is a lot of courage."

And indeed, in the battle at Ammunition Hill he showed his courage. This was on the second day of the fighting, the 27th of Iyar 5727 (6.6.1967); in an act of heroism and daring he fell in battle. This is the description of the act: When the force encountered fierce resistance and its advance was halted, Eitan came out of the trench and covered the force from open ground, fully exposed. He fired his machine gun from the hip, charged, and covered the force, and thereby enabled it to continue its advance in the trench. He continued to accompany and cover the force until an enemy bullet struck him.

He left a wife and an infant not yet one year old. In recognition, his last act was commended by the Chief of Staff. He was laid to eternal rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. In the bulletin of the Gilboa Regional Council, in memory of the sons of the region who fell, his memory was commemorated; in a booklet published by Moshav Moledet a section was dedicated to his memory and to that of two of his comrades. In the book "Stronger Than Lions" (Me'arayot Gavru) of the Paratroopers Command, a page was dedicated to his life story and to the description of his last battle.

An inquiry conducted in 2017 emphasized that the Chief of Staff's Citation for Commendation awarded to Private Eitan Nava, of blessed memory, was converted to the Medal of Valor.