Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Eran Gad

Mar 3, 2002 - Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Eran Gad, 24, of Rishon Letzion was one of 10 soldiers and civilians killed when terrorists opened fire at an IDF roadblock north of Ofra in Samaria.

Shortly after 6:30 on Sunday morning, a Palestinian sniper opened fired at an army roadblock 1.5 kilometers north of Ofra on the Ramallah-Nablus road from his carbine, killing 10 soldiers and civilians and wounding four, before escaping unharmed. With his first shots, the gunman killed the three soldiers deployed behind concrete blocks surrounding the roadblock. Soldiers sleeping in the adjacent building were alerted by the gunfire and raced out to the roadblock, only to be shot dead. Also killed were civilians and soldiers who arrived by car at the roadblock.

Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Eran Gad was a student of criminology at the Beit Berl College and worked in the duty-free shop at Ben Gurion airport. After his studies, Eran planned to work with adolescents. Eran lived with his mother, Hannah, an IDF retiree, and with his brother, Amir (22), who is an officer in the air force. His parents divorced when he was a child.

"He does a lot of reserve duty, but never asked to be released and to get away. He was a special kid, he never complained, and never said a bad word about the army", said Eran's mother.

Sgt.-Maj. Eran Gad was buried in the military section of the Rishon Lezion cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Hannah and Avraham, and his brother Amir.