Medal of Valor (Israel)

The Medal of Valor (Hebrew: עיטור הגבורה‎,Hebrew pronunciation: [(ʔ)iˈtuʁ (h)agvuˈʁa] Itur HaGvura) is the highest Israeli military decoration.

עיטור הגבורה
Medal of Valor
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded for"Performing an supreme act of valor while facing the enemy and risking one's life"
Presented byIsrael Defense Forces
EligibilitySoldiers of the Israel Defense Forces
StatusCurrently awarded
Established1970
Last awarded1975
Total recipients40
Precedence
Next (lower)Medal of Courage

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 1947-48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. 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 a tax reduction and invitations to official state ceremonies.

To this day, 40 medals have been awarded: 12 for actions in the War of Independence (Hero of Israel recipients automatically awarded the Medal of Valor), four for the Sinai War, 12 for the Six-Day War, one for the War of Attrition, eight for the Yom Kippur War and three others awarded on other occasions.

Design

The medal was designed by Dan Reisinger in the shape of 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
NameRankConflictPlace of actionDate of actionReason for receiving medal
Yair Racheli[1]PrivateWar of IndependenceNear Shefa-'Amr19 January 1948Destroyed an enemy position
Emmanuel Landau[1]PrivateKiryat Motzkin17 March 1948Captured an enemy supply truck
Avraham Avigdorov[1]PrivateKiryat Motzkin17 March 1948Destroyed two enemy Bren machine gun positions
Zerubavel Horowitz[1]Second LieutenantRoad to Jerusalem27 March 1948Covered the retreat of his comrades during an enemy attack
Yizhar Armoni[1]PrivateNabi Yusha20 April 1948Covered the retreat of his comrades and the evacuation of wounded soldiers
Emil Brig[1]SergeantKibbutz Gesher area14 May 1948Destroyed a bridge and thus preventing the enemy from advancing
Zvi Zibel[1]AirmanBen Shemen25 June 1948Delivered supplies to the besieged Ben Shemen while under heavy enemy fire
Ben-Zion Leitner[1]Private First ClassIraq Suwaydan19 October 1948Destroyed enemy bunkers
Ron Feller[1][2]SergeantKaratiyya19 July 1948Destroyed an enemy tank
Yohai Ben-Nun[1]CaptainMediterranean Sea22 October 1948Sank the Egyptian Navy flagship
Siman-Tov GanehPrivateIraq Suwaydan19 November 1948Covered the retreat of his comrades
Arieh AtzmoniMaster SergeantRafah4 November 1948Rescued a cannon from enemy hands
Yaakov Mizrachi[3]PrivateRetribution operationsKuntila28 October 1955Displayed great courage in charging the enemy
Pinchas "Aloush" NoyLieutenantQalqilyah10 October 1956Charged enemy positions and killed nine enemy soldiers
Uzi Bar-ZurCorporalSinai WarSinai26 October-5 November 1956Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire
Dan Ziv[4][5]Second LieutenantSinai1 November 1956Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire
Yehuda Ken-DrorPrivateSinai1 November 1956Located enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire
Shlomo Nitzani[6][7]SergeantSinai26 October-5 November 1956Rescued wounded soldiers and destroyed enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire
Zvi Ofer[8]MajorRetribution operationsNukaiv16 March 1962Charged enemy positions
Moshe Drimmer[9]PrivateSix-Day WarGolan Heights9 June 1967Covered the retreat of his comrades
Daniel WordonCaptainEl-Arish7 June 1967Covered the rescue of wounded soldiers
Uri WeislerLieutenantRafah5 June 1967Continued to engage the enemy while injured
Shaul Vardi[10]SergeantGolan Heights9 June 1967Continued to engage the enemy while injured
Moshe TalLieutenantGaza Strip5 June 1967Commanded a force of half-tracks
Yosef LapperSergeantKhan Younis5 June 1967Fought for eight hours alone with his tank
Eitan Neveh[11]PrivateJerusalem6 June 1967Covered his forces in the Battle of the Ammunition Hill
Beni InbarStaff SergeantRafah5 June 1967Destroyed eight tanks
Mordechai FriedmanLieutenantJerusalem6 June 1967Destroyed an enemy position
Gad Refen[12]LieutenantWest Bank6 June 1967Commanded the conquest of an enemy position near Jenin
David Shirazi[13]PrivateGolan Heights9 June 1967Charged an enemy position
Natanel Horovitz[10]LieutenantGolan Heights9 June 1967Charged an enemy position
Ami AyalonLieutenantWar of AttritionGreen Island19 July 1969Heroic action during Operation Bulmus 6
Oded AmirCaptainYom Kippur WarPort Said6–24 October 1973Commanded a force which damaged three enemy ships in Port Said harbour
Gideon GiladiMajorEgypt15 October 1973Commanded an armour battle
Zvika GreengoldCaptainGolan Heights6 October 1973Delayed an enemy armour column
Moshe Levy[14]SergeantSinai15 October 1973Destroyed an enemy position
Yuval Neria[15]CaptainSinai6–18 October 1973Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles
Shlomo ArmanSecond LieutenantSinai6–8 October 1973Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles
Asa KadmoniMajorSinai18 October 1973Fought a large enemy force while surrounded
Avigdor KahalaniLieutenant ColonelGolan Heights9 October 1973Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles

References
  1. "Last Minute News Hundreds of Thousands Jam Tel Aviv to Witness Army Day Parade; Weizmann Decorates H..." Jewish Telegraphic Agency. July 18, 1949.
  2. Ofer Aderet (February 6, 2016). "Israeli War Hero Ron Feller Dies, 84". Haaretz.
  3. Uzi Dann (April 19, 2010). "Memorial Day The Fallen Striker". Haaretz.
  4. Henkin, Yagil (October 22, 2015). The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-7391-8721-0. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. Pressfield, Steven (May 6, 2014). The Lion's Gate: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-698-16397-3. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  6. "IDF chief of staff lays flag on grave of fallen soldier". Jerusalem Post. April 10, 2013.
  7. Henkin, Yagil (October 22, 2015). The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-7391-8721-0. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  8. Amir Oren (15 January 2009). "Color Red, White House, Green Line". Haaretz.
  9. Dunstan, Simon (2009). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-84603-364-3. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  10. Dunstan, Simon; Dennis, Peter (February 20, 2013). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4728-0197-5. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  11. Dunstan, Simon; Dennis, Peter (February 20, 2013). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-4728-0197-5. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. Amir Oren (January 26, 2015). "Desperate journey, stupid act: Why Israelis voters should see right through Netanyahu". Haaretz.
  13. Rashba, Gary L. (June 2011). Holy Wars: 3,000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land. Casemate Publishers. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-61200-019-0. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  14. "IDF War Hero: The Soldier Who Lost His Arm and Risked His Life to Strike the Enemy". Israel Defense Force official blog (idfblog.com). October 23, 2013.
  15. Avihai Becker (November 13, 2002). "No End to This Bitter Battle". Haaretz.
  • John D. Clarke, Gallantry Medals & Awards of the World, p. 108
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