Oded Amir

Oded, son of Geula and Shmuel, was born on 14 Iyar 5710 (1.5.1950) in Kibbutz Gesher HaZiv. He studied in the elementary grades in the kibbutz and afterwards continued his studies at the regional high school.

From childhood Oded stood out for his spiritual maturity and his well-formed personality. Acquaintances from his childhood days remember him as having a developed sense of justice, which even then was closer to "the sense of justice of adults" than to that "of children". Since he was also endowed with courage, stubbornness and caring, he was unable not to intervene in whatever took place before his eyes. He would pounce on older children who picked on his friends, even though he was not a strongman but small and thin. Oded was unable to come to terms with a wrong that had been done. In his group and in his class he served as a kind of conscience for everyone.

Soon they became accustomed to seeing him as the natural leader of the group, and he liked to look after public matters and stood at the head of the volunteers for every task. The teachers knew that he could be trusted and placed difficult tasks in his hands. He cared about everything: that the trip would succeed, that the classroom would be clean, that the rest of his classmates would be partners in what was happening, and he cared about helping when help was needed. Along with this, he was a great mischief-maker and played many pranks. With much resourcefulness he would plan and carry out stunts that, a while later, became a subject of conversation throughout the kibbutz. He had that rare blend of a love of life full of cheer together with a mature and responsible seriousness.

Later, when the need arose to guide young people, he took the task upon himself as a matter of course, even though at that time he was busy with his hobbies and with sporting activity. He had an unrestrainable urge to volunteer. He always volunteered for social and farm tasks and felt that he must do much more than was required of him. His friends relate that they cannot remember even one case of "volunteering for show". True, he expected appreciation, but there was not a trace in it of what is called "showing off".

He had exemplary natural courtesy, and his manner with people was full of nobility. People liked to be in his company. Many used to talk with him about their problems and received his advice with full faith. He was one of those few who know how to listen patiently to an opposing opinion and are ready to re-examine their own opinions objectively.

When the time of his draft arrived, he agonized greatly over the choice of his future in the army, and it was his character that determined the choice. Oded was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1968 and volunteered for an elite unit of the Navy. After basic training he completed, one after another, the special courses of the unit. His commanders at once recognized his worth and qualities, and sent him to an officers' course.

In periodic evaluations of his service as an officer he earned excellent assessments as a man of outstanding command ability and leadership, with quick comprehension, great resourcefulness and excellent professional knowledge. Oded also excelled in devotion and responsibility in carrying out his missions, and in steadiness and effectiveness in difficult situations. His motto was "Don't worry, it will be all right". Even when he went out on extremely difficult and dangerous missions, he was calm and serene and full of self-confidence.

During his service, first as a soldier and afterwards as a commander in one of the most elite units in the IDF, he took part in and commanded operations that earned him certificates from the Commander of the Navy and a letter of appreciation from the Chief of Staff. In the Yom Kippur War he took part in one of the boldest missions carried out by the IDF. In his fighting Oded displayed supreme heroism, risking his life, and for this he was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Minister of Defense, which states: "During the battles of the Yom Kippur War Oded commanded a force of divers that penetrated the port of Port Said and struck three enemy warships, even though the port was well protected, including patrols and the dropping of depth charges. Oded carried out his mission in full."

From this operation he did not return, and the place of Oded's burial is not known. A memorial plaque in his name was set at the cemetery on Mount Herzl. He left behind parents and two brothers. The fallen soldier is classified as "Makal'an": a fallen soldier whose burial place is not known.