73 soldiers fell in the helicopter disaster • A former battalion commander recounted the moment of discovery: "Ido burst into my office and mumbled 'the helicopters' • A fighter who returned:" I burned my uniform in the morning "
Helicopter Disaster
Photography:
AP
"At about 18:00, I made my way to the bathroom, 20 meters from the office and on the way I recognized an obscure flash from the sky," Col. (Res.) Amnon Eshel Assulin shared with surfers in a post written last April and re-shared yesterday (Wednesday) evening. Ido then burst into my office and tried to mumble.
Ido, a generally calm officer, could not say what I was saying and I can understand something like 'the helicopters ...'.
I suddenly pick up the story, get up, run outside and announce a 'bounce'. "
Today (Thursday) 24 years ago, one of the greatest disasters in the history of the IDF and the State of Israel occurred - the helicopter disaster, which claimed the lives of all 73 officers and fighters who were inside the two aircraft and made their way to Lebanon. Like Eshel, who commanded an armored battalion and lost several From his warriors, other warriors shared their memories and feelings from that cold, bitter and hurried night in the Facebook group “Stories from Lebanon - What Happened in the Outposts.” For the first time in a grouped form, the former warriors shared what happened to them minutes and hours after the disaster.
"Unloading from the jeep wants to direct the flames, and then suddenly they are exposed to the terrible sight, which does not leave me for a moment to this day," Assouline wrote about that damn night.
"We continue to run to the orchard around the house and then a terrible sight. Dozens of bodies are placed in perfect order, as if someone had organized them."
For him, the night was still long, "the hours pass, the evacuation work continues, the bodies are taken to a military garage in Kiryat Shmona. A huge shed into which all the bodies that arrived and were deployed in perfect order. .
Along with the difficult sights during the identification and evacuation of the bodies and of course the loss of the fighters and commanders, Assouline, as commander of the 75th Armored Battalion, was also required to manage the operational arena entrusted to his unit. About the disaster and that they are now twice as required to be vigilant because the other side has no sadness.
They see the situation as an opportunity for action. "
Another fighter, who took part in the task of locating, identifying and evacuating the fighters' bodies, told of the atrocities.
"Arriving at the scene, fire from the helicopter, water from the sky and darkness. Darkness outside, darkness all around, darkness creeping in. There is still no peace. The body and head enter the automaton, begin. Still trying to hear, search, listen, hope. Realize it remains only quiet. Searching, collecting, picking up, bringing, arranging.There are moments of sights, quiet and smell ... I worked quietly by helicopter at night, quietly burned my uniform in the morning, rode quietly on a walk between cemeteries, stood quietly at 13 funerals.Someone said Lee: "You brought them to rest, physically." Until everyone there rested, I did not rest either, maybe not yet rested. "
"I remember the confusion and shock the day after. I did not know which funeral to go to," shared a Nahal fighter who lost many friends in the collision of the two helicopters over the rest of the town. Assouline, who lost seven of his subordinates that terrible night, also recounts very difficult feelings.
"I am going to the funeral of the late Sagi Arazi, where the late Chief of Staff - the late Amnon Lipkin Shachak also arrives.
We meet there and he tries to cheer me up, but it's clear to me that his spirit has also been shaken.
I stand in the doorway of Sagi's fresh grave and mourn for the first time in my life the death of my subordinate.
Reading from the scripture I have prepared, doubtless shouting, doubtless crying and trying to keep the required composure of a commander.
The tears froze and the words sounded as if trying to scream 'how', 'why' and more. "
Along with the difficult stories about what happened on February 4, 1997, many stories and memoirs were published about the fighters who fell in the disaster.
"When I was in a tank commanders course, I lost my booklet somewhere in Shizafon," said one of the surfers.
"Dvir Lanir was one of my 'gardeners' (commanders). All the beautiful things that are always said about who was killed were 100% accurate about him, a guy that everyone just loves. Dvir was not even my direct commander but he did not hesitate and honestly gave me his booklet. ".
He said, "This folder has been with me for 23 years. I lost mine, but I was terribly afraid of losing Dvir's because two years later he fell in the helicopter disaster."
Three years ago he posted his story on Facebook and a commander of Lanir who was in contact with his family linked them and asked him to pass the booklet to his parents, "So I still did not understand that for bereaved parents, every chip or little memory of their son is a treasure. Obviously I immediately agreed. I feel now "At least the booklet is where it should be. Only Dvir is still missing. Missing but not forgotten."
The group, which usually includes mostly former fighters, also referred to the disaster as Ran Armen's sister, who fell in the disaster while serving as commander of the "Arches" team in the Battalion of the Communications Corps.
"The rain is falling hard on the ground like the tears that fell on the land on this day 24 years ago," she wrote. "For all of us - my big brother. This year in the shadow of the corona we will stand in front of your grave alone, only the nuclear family, only the sky, the grave and a sweet memory of a lovely child."