Ahmed Hamdi facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Born | 20 May 1929 Mansoura, Egypt |
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| Died | 14 October 1973 (aged 44) Suez Canal, Egypt |
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| Sport | Sports shooting | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ahmed Hamdi was a brave Egyptian engineer and a high-ranking army general. He was born on May 20, 1929, and sadly passed away on October 14, 1973. He became a hero during the Yom Kippur War when he was killed helping his soldiers cross the Suez Canal. Because of his bravery, he received a special award called the Sinai star after his death.
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Who Was Ahmed Hamdi?
Ahmed Hamdi studied engineering at Cairo University. After graduating, he joined the Egyptian Air Force in 1951. Later, in 1954, he moved to the engineering part of the army. He even traveled to the Soviet Union to train as a leader at a famous military school.
Ahmed Hamdi's Role in the Suez Crisis
In 1956, during the Suez Crisis, Ahmed Hamdi became known as "the pure hand." This was because he bravely removed thousands of dangerous landmines. His quick thinking saved many lives.
Protecting the Suez Canal
In 1967, Ahmed Hamdi made an important decision. He ordered the El Ferdan Railway Bridge to be blown up. This stopped enemy soldiers from using it. He also set up secret watchtowers along the Suez Canal. These towers were hidden under trees to watch enemy movements. He chose the best spots for these towers himself.
Building Bridges for Victory
In 1971, Ahmed Hamdi led a special group of soldiers. Their job was to build bridges across the Suez Canal. These bridges were super important for the 3rd Army to cross safely during the Yom Kippur War. He even found ways to make Russian-made bridges work better for the Suez Canal. He cut the time it took to build these bridges from 12 hours to just 4 hours!
A Hero's Sacrifice
During the war, Ahmed Hamdi was wounded while his army was crossing one of his bridges. Even though he was hurt, he refused to stay in the command center. He wanted to be with his soldiers and officers. Sadly, he was shot and killed during the same operation. He died a hero, leading his troops.
How Egypt Honored Ahmed Hamdi
Egypt honored Ahmed Hamdi in many ways for his bravery.
- Sinai Star: He received the highest military award in Egypt, the Sinai Star (first rank). This award was given to him after his death.
- Engineer Day: His death day, October 14, is now a special holiday called Engineer Day in Egypt.
- Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel: The President of Egypt, Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, named a very important tunnel after him. This tunnel, called the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, connects the Sinai Peninsula to the rest of Egypt.
Ahmed Hamdi: A Sports Champion Too!
Did you know Ahmed Hamdi was also a great athlete? He was an international sport shooter for Egypt. He competed in three events at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He also won two gold medals at the 1951 Mediterranean Games. He was truly talented in many areas!
