“His hair tossed by the wind the broken whistle pushed him unknowingly between the lines, along with all the others “                     Yehuda Amichai It’s been 4 weeks now from that horrible Friday morning but the pain of the loss has not weakened it only penetrates deeper and deeper into the heart. Nir you arrived into our unit as a young soldier and were given the job of a operation sergeant, a job only experienced soldiers receive but although your lack of experience you executed your tasks with the greatest of responsibility and cool mindedness just as the job requires. Your giving your good heart your overwhelming smile your charisma your sense of humor your open mind and humility – all those have turned you into an admired figure among your friends and commanding officers alike. Your commanding officers say that they never looked at you as a soldier but as a friend and that their relationship with you was always somewhat different. Throughout the mourning period we saw your loving family and all your many friends who miss you so much, making us realize where you come from. Maybe in the army you were just a corporal but in civilian life you were a lieutenant general indeed. Through the great love and longing for you I realized the full meaning of the words “how empty the world becomes in the absence of a man that filled up the world “- Nir you are the man! I know that when the battalion was disbanded there was a fog of uncertainty about your future in the army and that it caused you a great deal of grief and for that I would like to apologize and ask your forgiveness. Landesman family, I know that there are no words in me that will console you but we the family of Shfifon battalion do all we can to support you and remember Nir’s memory for eternity. May you know no more sorrow. Avi Mano….Battalion commander