Dan Shomron

Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron (Hebrew: דן שומרון) (August 5, 1937 in Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov – February 26, 2008) was the 13th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), from 1987 to 1991.

Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron
BornAugust 5, 1937
Ashdot Ya'akov, Mandatory Palestine
DiedFebruary 26, 2008(2008-02-26) (aged 70)
Herzliya, Israel
Allegiance Israel
Service/branch Israel Defense Forces
Years of service1955–1991
Rank Rav Aluf (highest rank)
Commands heldNahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, Commander GOC Army Headquarters, Commander of the IDF
Battles/warsSuez Crisis
Six-Day War
War of Attrition
Yom Kippur War
Operation Entebbe
1982 Lebanon War
South Lebanon conflict
First Intifada
AwardsMedal of Distinguished Service
Other workChairman of Israeli Military Industries

Shomron first saw combat in the 1956 Sinai campaign. During the Six-Day War, he commanded a unit on the Egyptian front, and was the first paratrooper to reach the Suez Canal. He was decorated with the Medal of Distinguished Service for this action.

In 1974, Shomron received the command over the Infantry Corps and Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF. He planned and commanded Operation Entebbe in 1976, during which Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) was killed fulfilling his duty as breaching force commander.[1] Although Shomron was proclaimed a hero for that role, he did not always feel comfortable with that appellation, saying

I also felt some kind of envy from the military and it was not comfortable for me. Around the world, until today, they look at me like something from a different world, a super super-hero, something not natural. I don't like that feeling of being an advertisement.

When asked what he most remembered about Operation Entebbe and the rescuing of the hostages, he said,

When the hostages board the evacuation plane, are helped up, each one checking his family that everyone is present. That was a strong moment that I can't forget.

In 1978, Shomron was in charge of the evacuation and dismantling of Yamit and army bases in the Sinai Peninsula, which occurred within the framework of the Camp David Accords with Egypt.

In 1983, Shomron established the ground forces command, to be in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps. He was its first commander.

In 1987, Shomron became the 13th Chief of Staff of the IDF, holding this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the Israeli Military Industries.

Shomron died on February 26, 2008, from complications of a brain aneurysm three weeks earlier. He was 70 years old.[2][3]

Shomron was played by Harris Yulin in the film Victory at Entebbe (1976). He was portrayed by Charles Bronson in Raid on Entebbe (1977).

Recognition

In 1973, he received the Medal of Distinguished Service as a Maj. as a result of his actions during the Six Day War.[4]

In 1977, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[5][6]

In 2009, the Kinneret Center on Peace, Security and Society was renamed The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace.[7]

See also

References
  1. The Forgotten Hero of Entebbe Ma'ariv, 16 June 2006
  2. Former chief of staff Dan Shomron dies at the age of 70 The Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2008
  3. Dan Shomron, ex-IDF chief and Entebbe raid commander, dies at 70 Haaretz, 26 February 2008
  4. "Medals, The Israel Defense Forces". The Israel Defense Forces.
  5. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  6. "Our History Photo: The Honorable John J. Sirica, Watergate trial judge and Time magazine's Man of the Year, with General Dan Shomron, paratroop commander of the Entebbe Airport rescue of 103 high-jacked hostages and later the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, on the head table at the 16th annual Banquet of the Golden Plate ceremonies in Orlando, Florida". American Academy of Achievement.
  7. "The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace". Kinneret Academic College.
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