Avraham Avigdorov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avraham Avigdorov
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Avraham Avigdorov, 17 July 1949
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| Born | July 2, 1929 Mitzpa, Mandatory Palestine |
| Died | September 4, 2012 (aged 83) Haifa, Israel |
| Allegiance | Yishuv,  Israel |
| Service/ |
Palmach |
| Years of service | 1947–1948 |
| Rank | Private |
| Battles/wars | 1947–1949 Palestine war |
| Awards | Medal of Valor Hero of Israel |
Avraham Avigdorov (Hebrew: אברהם אביגדורוב; July 2, 1929 – September 4, 2012) was a brave Israeli soldier. He is famous for receiving the Medal of Valor, which is the highest military award in Israel. He earned this award for his heroic actions during a battle in 1948, where he bravely took out two enemy machine gun positions.
Contents
A Hero's Story
Early Life and Education
Avraham Avigdorov was born in 1929 in a small farming village called Mitzpa, near Tiberias. This area was then known as Mandatory Palestine. When Avraham was young, his father, Gad, who was part of a group called HaShomer, was killed during a conflict in 1936. Avraham later studied agriculture at Mikve Israel, learning about farming and crops.
Military Service and Bravery
After finishing his studies, Avraham joined the Palmach in July 1947. The Palmach was a special fighting force before Israel became a country. He was assigned to the Yiftach Brigade.
On March 18, 1948, Avraham was part of a surprise attack on a convoy carrying weapons near Kiryat Motzkin. During this battle, he showed incredible courage. He managed to destroy two enemy machine gun positions, which were causing a lot of trouble for his unit. His actions helped turn the battle in favor of the Palmach.
A Serious Injury and Recovery
During the fight, the vehicle Avraham had damaged exploded. This explosion seriously injured him. He suffered severe burns and a broken jaw. For a time, he was even thought to have died and was taken to the morgue at the Rothschild Hospital in Haifa. Luckily, he showed signs of life and was quickly moved to a hospital room. He stayed in the hospital until 1949, recovering from his injuries. He even had plastic surgery to help him heal.
Receiving High Honors
In July 1949, Avraham Avigdorov was given the Hero of Israel award. This was a very high honor for his bravery. Later, in April 1973, this award was automatically changed to the Medal of Valor, which is Israel's top military decoration.
After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Avraham visited families who had lost loved ones in the war. He also met with soldiers who had been wounded. He wanted to show them that it was possible to live a full life even with serious injuries.
Life After the Military
In his civilian life, Avraham worked for the Ministry of Agriculture. He helped test different pesticides, which are chemicals used to protect crops from pests.
Personal Life
Avraham Avigdorov married a woman named Aliza. Together, they had three children.
