Cpl. Noam Bahagon

Feb 15, 2003 - Cpl. Noam Bahagon, 20, of Elkana was one of four soldiers killed when their tank drove over an explosive device weighing 100 kgs while on patrol in the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

At about 8:20 on Saturday morning, the Patton M-60 (Magah) tank was carrying out the morning patrol about one kilometer southeast of Dugit. As part of the lessons learned in the wake of three previous incidents in the Strip in which Merkava tanks were attacked, an armored bulldozer advanced some 50 meters before the tank. The bulldozer apparently passed over the same spot, but failed to detonate the explosive device. A few seconds later, the tank set off the large bomb which led to a series of explosions inside the tank, apparently killing the vehicle's four-man crew immediately.

Noam Bahagon, the youngest in a family of four, grew up in Elkana, in Samaria, where his family had settled about 15 years ago. After completing his primary education in Elkana, he attended the yeshiva high school in Hispin. He was also a volunteer for Ilan, an organization which helps the handicapped. Noam began his army service at the "hesder" yeshiva in Otniel before beginning service in the Armored Corps last March.

Friends described Noam as an idealist who, while very modest, was persevering and meticulous in his religious observance. Shmulik Levran, of the education department in Elkana, related: "He was a good person, with a smile on his face. He raised his physical profile in order to serve in a combat unit."

Cpl. Noam Bahagon was buried in the military section of the Segula Cemetery in Petah Tikva. He is survived by his parents, Benny and Hannah, his brothers Yossi and Meron, and his sister Efrat.