40 Years To Yom Kippur War
Israeli newspapers and TV/radio stations are running stories about the Yom Kippur war (1973). A war that was not popular and to some became a slap in the face and the first real loss for the state. More frightening, the war that saw the IDF losing soldiers and territory. To the Israeli public, in all the years, neither the military nor the government ever explained and analyzed the war. Once the government in charge was voted out, everybody wanted to make the war go away and move forward to better times.
Forty years seems to be enough time to settle down emotional differences. Like other unpopular or "losing" wars, the Yom Kipur war was one dark secret for a long time. Suddenly, old 8mm film and audio reels from dusty old boxes are making their way to the media. One dark secret is how violent the fighting between tanks and ground troops was for a few days. Another dark secret was the heroic acts of many soldiers, many never told before and some simply forgotten. Some soldiers want to contact former friends from forty years ago, connections gone cold with the years. Some soldiers want to thank a soldier, nurse or even an ambulance driver, who saved their life with a small act or an hour of encouragement when they needed it. Some want to thank a voice on the radio, of a mystery helper who guided them to safety. But most want to just talk and meet old soldiers who fought a hard war with no intention to lose and no intention to see so many dead so close to home (and so quickly).
My sister in law's father, a tank driver, took time away from his ailing wife to meet old friends. The tank war with Syria, was particularly messy and bloody. But what the soldiers, then merely in their 20's, left in dead friends, is made up in good live memories even today. With forty years of silence, especially from the IDF, which they (old soldiers) expected better treatment, now a flood of activity is suddenly bubbling and boiling. For all it's organization ability and good intention, the Israeli army command is not happy in dredging up old bad memories of a war that as first was considered a big loss. Armies don't like to lose territory and they like even less to lose soldiers. When battles are fierce, they don't like to bring up stories of the dead. But to the ones who fought the battles, the ones that actually lived with their friend's death, keeping silent can be more punishing than bringing up the memories. It seems like suddenly, the "younger" generals are getting that subtle point in the history of the state. AND THAT'S A GOOD CHANGE OF EVENTS !
Forty years seems to be enough time to settle down emotional differences. Like other unpopular or "losing" wars, the Yom Kipur war was one dark secret for a long time. Suddenly, old 8mm film and audio reels from dusty old boxes are making their way to the media. One dark secret is how violent the fighting between tanks and ground troops was for a few days. Another dark secret was the heroic acts of many soldiers, many never told before and some simply forgotten. Some soldiers want to contact former friends from forty years ago, connections gone cold with the years. Some soldiers want to thank a soldier, nurse or even an ambulance driver, who saved their life with a small act or an hour of encouragement when they needed it. Some want to thank a voice on the radio, of a mystery helper who guided them to safety. But most want to just talk and meet old soldiers who fought a hard war with no intention to lose and no intention to see so many dead so close to home (and so quickly).
My sister in law's father, a tank driver, took time away from his ailing wife to meet old friends. The tank war with Syria, was particularly messy and bloody. But what the soldiers, then merely in their 20's, left in dead friends, is made up in good live memories even today. With forty years of silence, especially from the IDF, which they (old soldiers) expected better treatment, now a flood of activity is suddenly bubbling and boiling. For all it's organization ability and good intention, the Israeli army command is not happy in dredging up old bad memories of a war that as first was considered a big loss. Armies don't like to lose territory and they like even less to lose soldiers. When battles are fierce, they don't like to bring up stories of the dead. But to the ones who fought the battles, the ones that actually lived with their friend's death, keeping silent can be more punishing than bringing up the memories. It seems like suddenly, the "younger" generals are getting that subtle point in the history of the state. AND THAT'S A GOOD CHANGE OF EVENTS !
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