Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Amir Zimmerman

Feb 26, 2004 - Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Amir Zimmerman, 25, of Kfar Monash was killed and two other soldiers wounded shortly before 7 a.m., when two Palestinian terrorists opened fire near the Erez Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The terrorists were killed by soldiers. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack. Zimmerman grew up in Kfar Monash, a small moshav of 70 families, 13 of whose sons have fallen in the line of duty. "It was important for him to serve in a combat unit and he worked hard to be accepted in the Orev unit of the Golani Brigade," said his aunt, Adi Moran.

After serving as an outstanding soldier for a long time in Lebanon, his father, Eliezer related, "all his comrades knew that they could always count on him."

After completing his compulsory service, Zimmerman made a trip to the Far East. "He called me from the East to ask whether he should come home or continue to Australia and New Zealand," his father recalled. "I told him to keep on traveling and to have fun."

Upon his return, Zimmerman began studying industrial management at Ruppin College. He was called up for reserve duty for the first time at Erez, a week before his death.

Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Amir Zimmerman was buried in the Kfar Monash Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Gavriella and Eliezer, his brother, Alon, 17, and sister, Shira, 14.