Friday, October 24, 2008

I came across this story on a catalog ad, but I decided I had to probe further. This Wikipedia link says it all:

Roi Klein

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Roi Klein (Hebrew: øåòé ÷ìééï) (pronounced Ro-ee Klein) (1975-July 26 2006) born in Raanana, Israel was a Major in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers.

Klein began his IDF service in the Egoz Reconnaissance Unit.

In 2002 Klein received a Chief Of Staff Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus where 5 Palestinian terrorists were killed.

During the Battle of Bint Jbeil, a hand grenade was thrown into the house where Klein and his unit were present. Klein told his men "Inform in the communication that I've been killed" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. Klein was killed on spot but with this action saved the lives of the soldiers. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish Prayer Shma Yisrael as he jumped on the grenade.

Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya and Raanana have been named after him. [1]

For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Courage posthumously. [2]