Roi Klein
| Roi Klein | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Bogie |
| Born | March 6, 1975 Ra'anana, Israel |
| Died | February 6, 2006 (aged 30) Bint Jbeil, Southern Lebanon |
| Allegiance |  Israel |
| Service/branch | Israeli Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Egoz Reconnaissance Unit |
| Battles/wars | 2006 Lebanon War *Battle of Bint Jbeil |
| Awards | Medal of Courage |
Roi Klein (Hebrew: רועי קליין; IPA: [ʁoˈʕi klain]; (July 27 1975—July 26 2006) was a Major in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces and one of the most highly decorated soldier who died during the 2006 Lebanon War.[1] Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Klein was born in Raanana, Israel, to parents that were Holocaust survivors.[2] His father's side originated from Germany and fled to Israel at the onset of the Second World War.[3] Most of his mother's family was killed in the Holocaust.[3]
Klein studied Industrial Engineering and Management at Ariel University Center of Samaria, and graduated with honors.
Klein lived in a home he built on his own in the Hayovel outpost near Eli, Mateh Binyamin, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.[1] He was married to Sara and had two sons: Gilad and Yoav.[4]
[edit] Israel Defense Forces
Klien began his IDF service in the Paratroopers Brigade but later transferred to the Golani Brigade's Egoz Reconnaissance Unit[citation needed]. In 2002, Klein received a Chief of Staff Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus in which 5 Palestinian militants were killed[citation needed]. At the time of his death, Klien was the deputy commander of the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade.[5]
[edit] Battle of Bint Jbeil
During the Battle of Bint Jbeil, a hand grenade was thrown over the wall that was separating between Hezbollah militants, and Klein and his unit. Klein told his men "Klein's dead, Klein's dead" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael, as he jumped on the grenade.[3][4][2] According to other accounts he yelled "Long live Israel."[5] He dies one day before his 31st birthday.[2]
[edit] Legacy
Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya and Raanana have been named after him.[6]
For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Courage posthumously.[7]
In July 2009 the Israel High Court of Justice ruled to demolish the home of Roi Klein, where his family is currently residing, among 11 homes in Eli.[2][1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Dead soldier's West Bank home at risk". United Press International. July 14, 2009. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/14/Soldiers-West-Bank-home-at-risk/UPI-98661247570917/. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d Lazaroff, Tovah; Dan Izenberg (July 17, 2009). "Family of Golani hero may lose home". The Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=148998. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b c Meotti, Giulio (2010). A New Shoah: The Untold Story of Israel's Victims of Terrorism. Encounter Books. p. 386. ISBN 9781594034770. http://books.google.com/books?id=gqMVfx6dCJkC&pg=PA386&dq=Roi+Klein&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CkZET_u2Gqbi0QHB642eBA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Roi%20Klein&f=false.
- ^ a b Katz, Yossi (2010). A Voice Called: Stories of Jewish Heroism. Gefen Publishing House. p. 193. ISBN 9789652294807. http://books.google.com/books?id=gKSLDHiWlZoC&pg=PA193&dq=Roi+Klein&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CkZET_u2Gqbi0QHB642eBA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Roi%20Klein&f=false.
- ^ a b Butcher, Tom (09 August 2007). "Israel honours bravery of armed forces". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1559875/Israel-honours-bravery-of-armed-forces.html. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ Netanya weekly,22/08/2006 (Hebrew)
- ^ HaLevi, Ezra. "'Medal of Courage' to be Awarded to Fallen Maj. Ro'i Klein". Artuz Sheva. Israel National News. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123313#.TvaZB1YqjFB. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
[edit] External links
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