The IDF delegation and the Ministry of Defense today (Monday) excavated the tomb of the IDF space, Private Martin Davidovich, in the Czech Republic and identified his bones.
As we first published on the "Israel Today" website, Davidovich, the first paratrooper space, will be brought to Israel in a coffin and will be buried this coming Thursday on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
"Today we are returning to Israel the bones of an IDF soldier, Private Martin Davidovich," said the head of the IDF, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur.
"It is our moral duty to restore his coffin to eternal rest on Mount Herzl. We have an unwavering commitment to restore the captives and the missing, and all IDF martyrs whose burial place is unknown."
The IDF delegation and the Ministry of Defense were also joined by the head of the Family and Commemoration Division, Aryeh Mualem, who said: "We are here in the Czech Republic near Martin Davidovich's grave. "IDF in a parachuting course."
Mualem added: "This activity began several years ago after an application from a member of his family who lives abroad.
We started walking in front of the Czech authorities to fetch his body.
We should have brought his bones a year and eight months ago, but the corona disrupted things. "
Although Didovic was not officially drafted into the IDF, he was recognized as an IDF soldier in 2001 after it was revealed that he was killed during an IDF parachuting course in the Czech Republic. He studied in a "room" in the town where he grew up, and later was active in the Hashomer Hatzair movement. During the war, three of his brothers perished in the Holocaust.
During the War of Independence, Czechoslovakia helped build the IDF force, supplying Israel with weapons and ammunition. Davidovich.
The course commander was the renowned poet Haim Guri, and the course staff included defense personnel and Czechoslovak military personnel.
On August 18, 1948, Davidovich was killed during training by the bullet of one of the Czech instructors in what was defined as a training accident.
Davidovich fell in a paratroopers' training exercise as part of an IDF course in Czechoslovakia.
Bringing his bones to Israel has been doomed for several years, and now all barriers have been removed.
A delegation that went out this week was also joined by several paratroopers in order to give Davidovich one last honor, and to carry his coffin.
As mentioned, he is expected to be buried next Thursday in the military section of Mount Herzl.
His funeral will be attended by about 60 family members from around the world, as well as other citizens who will come to honor his memory.