- Medal of Valor (Israel)
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עיטור הגבורה Awarded by Israel Defense Forces Type Military decoration Eligibility Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces Awarded for Heroism Status Currently awarded Statistics Established 1970 Last awarded 1975 Distinct
recipients40 Precedence Next (lower) Medal of Courage The Medal of Valor (Hebrew: עיטור הגבורה, Itur HaGvura) is the highest Israeli military decoration.
The medal was established in 1970 by the Knesset in an act of law as a replacement for the Hero of Israel military decoration that was awarded during the War of Independence. Awards of the medal were also made for actions prior to 1970, and all recipients of the Hero of Israel automatically received the Medal of Valor as well.
Recipients of the medal receive several privileges such as tax reduction and invitations to official state ceremonies. Soldiers awarded the Medal of Valor may also be granted the right to be buried in the Helkat Gedolei Ha'Uma cemetery on Mount Herzl.
To this day, 40 medals have been awarded: 12 during the Independence War, 4 during the Sinai War, 12 during the Six-Day War, 1 during the War of Attrition, 8 during the Yom Kippur War and 3 others awarded on other occasions. The first 12 recipients of the Medal of Valor also had the Hero of Israel decoration (see above).
Design
The medal was designed by Dan Reisinger. It is shaped as a Star of David.
A sword and olive branch decorate the left side while the reverse is plain.
The medal is attached to a yellow ribbon, a reference to the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. Two time recipients of the medal attach a small medal-shaped clasp to the ribbon.
The medal is minted by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation. It is made of 25 gram silver/935 and the clasp is chrome plated.
Recipients
Name Rank Conflict Place of action Date of action Reason for receiving medal Yair Racheli Private War of Independence Near Shefa-'Amr 19 Jan 1948 Destroyed an enemy position Emmanuel Landau Private War of Independence Kiryat Motzkin 17 Mar 1948 Captured an enemy supply truck Abraham Avigdorov Private War of Independence Kiryat Motzkin 17 Mar 1948 Destroyed two enemy Bren machine gun positions Zerubavel Horowitz Second Lieutenant War of Independence Road to Jerusalem 27 Mar 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades during an enemy attack Yizhar Armoni Private War of Independence Nabi Yusha 20 Apr 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades and the evacuation of wounded soldiers Emil Brig Sergeant War of Independence Kibbutz Gesher area 14 May 1948 Destroyed a bridge and thus preventing the enemy from advancing Zvi Zibel Airman War of Independence Ben Shemen 25 Jun 1948 Delivered supplies to the besieged Ben Shemen while under heavy enemy fire Ben-Zion Leitner Private First Class War of Independence Iraq Suwaydan 19 Oct 1948 Destroyed enemy bunkers Ron Feller Sergeant War of Independence Karatiyya 19 Jul 1948 Destroyed an enemy tank Yohai Ben-Nun Captain War of Independence Mediterranean Sea 22 Oct 1948 Sank the Egyptian Navy flag ship Siman-Tov Ganeh Private War of Independence Iraq Suwaydan 19 Nov 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades Arieh Atzmoni Master Sergeant War of Independence Rafah 4 Nov 1948 Rescued a cannon from enemy hands Yacov Mizrachi Private Retribution operations Kuntila 28 Oct 1955 Displayed great courage in charging the enemy Pinchas Noy Lieutenant Retribution operations Qalqilyah 10 Oct 1956 Charged enemy positions and killed nine enemy soldiers Uzi Bar-Zur Corporal Sinai War Sinai 26 Oct-5 Nov 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire Dan Ziv Second Lieutenant Sinai War Sinai 1 Nov 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire Yehuda Ken-Dror Private Sinai War Sinai 1 Nov 1956 Located enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire Shlomo Nitzani Sergeant Sinai War Sinai 26 Oct-5 Nov 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers and destroyed enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire Zvi Ofer Major Retribution operations Nukaiv 16 Mar 1962 Charged enemy positions Moshe Drimmer Private Six-Day War Golan Heights 9 Jun 1967 Covered the retreat of his comrades Daniel Wordon Captain Six-Day War El-Arish 7 Jun 1967 Covered the rescue of wounded soldiers Uri Weisler Lieutenant Six-Day War Rafah 5 Jun 1967 Continued to engage the enemy while injured Shaul Vardi Sergeant Six-Day War Golan Heights 9 Jun 1967 Continued to engage the enemy while injured Moshe Tal Lieutenant Six-Day War Gaza Strip 5 Jun 1967 Commanded a force of half-tracks Yosef Lapper Sergeant Six-Day War Khan Younis 5 Jun 1967 Fought for eight hours alone with his tank Eitan Neveh Private Six-Day War Jerusalem 6 Jun 1967 Covered his forces in the Battle of the Ammunition Hill Beni Inbar Staff Sergeant Six-Day War Rafah 5 Jun 1967 Destroyed eight tanks Mordechai Friedman Lieutenant Six-Day War Jerusalem 6 Jun 1967 Destroyed an enemy position Gad Refen Lieutenant Six-Day War West Bank 6 Jun 1967 Commanded the conquest of an enemy position near Jenin David Shirazi Private Six-Day War Golan Heights 9 Jun 1967 Charged an enemy position Natanel Horovitz Lieutenant Six-Day War Golan Heights 9 Jun 1967 Charged an enemy position Ami Ayalon Lieutenant War of Attrition Green Island 19 Jul 1969 Heroic action during Operation Bulmus 6 Oded Amir Captain Yom Kippur War Port Said 6-24 Oct 1973 Commanded a force which damaged three enemy ships in Port Said harbour Gideon Giladi Major Yom Kippur War Egypt 15 Oct 1973 Commanded an armour battle Zvika Greengold Captain Yom Kippur War Golan Heights 6 Oct 1973 Stopped an enemy armour column Moshe Levi Sergeant Yom Kippur War Sinai 15 Oct 1973 Destroyed an enemy position Yuval Neria Captain Yom Kippur War Sinai 6-18 Oct 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles Shlomo Arman Second Lieutenant Yom Kippur War Sinai 6-8 Oct 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles Asa Kadmoni Major Yom Kippur War Sinai 18 Oct 1973 Fought a large enemy force while surrounded Avigdor Kahalani Lieutenant Colonel Yom Kippur War Golan Heights 9 Oct 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles References
- John D. Clarke, Gallantry Medals & Awards of the World, pp. 108
Categories:- Military awards and decorations of Israel
- Awards established in 1970
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