As days go by since Hamas terrorists started this war with Israel, new stories of heroism come to light.
The courageous individuals behind these acts are yet to fully comprehend their own valor. Together, they fight in this campaign, with the IDF vowing not to cease until victory is achieved.
One such tale of heroism belongs to Lt.-Col. Yaniv Levy, a non-combat officer in the Gaza Division. Despite normally being a non-combatant, his determination led him to answer the call to duty.
"At around 06:20 on Saturday morning, I received a call reporting significant disturbances in the area," he recounted.
"At the same time, I saw news on my phone that confirmed the magnitude of the situation. Without hesitation, I packed a bag with necessary equipment and clothes, bid my wife and four young children farewell, and drove south."
So, you ventured into the perilous zone even though it was not your role as a soldier?
En route to the Ashkelon intersection, I received a WhatsApp message informing me that an officer from the division had been shot. Knowing the area near the Gaza Division teemed with ambushes, posing a threat of abduction to anyone present, I decided to alter my route momentarily.
I arrived at Urim, located within the Gaza border area, where sounds of fighting and gunshots emanated from a nearby Home Front Command base. Amid the chaos, I tried to figure out what was happening.
Suddenly, the battalion commander approached me at the base, urgently seeking assistance to rescue wounded personnel. Without a second thought, I realized their location, took another officer with me in the vehicle, and drove towards the base we had initially altered our path to reach. The base gate was locked.
During this time, did you hear any reports of army forces arriving, or was the army significantly delayed?
I did not have the luxury of time to think about it. Who knows who had received information and how?
We found ourselves in a situation where we understood a major crisis was unfolding, with numerous terrorists infiltrating the area. Our main objective was to neutralize as many terrorists as possible and put an end to their merciless killing spree.
As a technology and maintenance officer, my duty revolves around safeguarding everything that shoots, travels, explodes, or ticks. The division has a lot of these, and anything else was inconsequential. The primary goal was to stop these ruthless killings, save the wounded, and that's what mattered.
Arriving at the base gate, which remained locked, I wasted no time. Amid continuous gunfire, I turned back momentarily, only to come back at full speed and forcefully break the gate. We entered and found several wounded, but unfortunately, there were also casualties scattered across the area, along with the bodies of terrorists.
With weapons drawn, we remained ready for any imminent danger. During this chaos, we heard screams from the area where female soldiers lived, meaning there were likely wounded soldiers there.
So you faced a dilemma: Should you prioritize the wounded or fight the terrorists within the base?
For me, there was no dilemma. My immediate priority was to evacuate the wounded swiftly, as time was of the essence.
We rushed towards the rooms where I spotted a soldier dressed in civilian clothes due to it being Shabbat. She suffered stomach wounds, with two bullets lodged in her abdomen. While I sought to help her stay consciousness, I assigned someone to remain with her, ensuring she stayed awake.
Meanwhile, we meticulously checked nearby rooms to ensure no other terrorists were present. We broke windows, forced open doors, and secured the small compound where we sought refuge. During all this, a woman who was only lightly wounded managed to get herself to safety.
We placed the wounded soldier on a stretcher, loaded her into my car through the open back door, and raced towards Urim, a mere five-minute drive, making sure to keep communicating with her to keep her calm and conscious.
Subsequently, we transferred her to an ambulance, followed by an urgent rocket evacuation. Three days ago, the division's medical officer informed me that he had spoken to her parents, assuring them that after undergoing three surgeries, she was out of immediate danger and was expected to survive.
Will you meet the soldier you saved? After all, you are her guardian angel
I will undoubtedly meet her. Tragically, I lost fellow soldiers, friends, and valiant commanders on that dreadful day. Regrettably, I could not even attend their funerals due to ongoing operations in this campaign. However, once the situation calms down, I will meet her.
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