Israeli Soldier Hillel Ofen Dies During Training, Grieving Family Shares Heartfelt Tributes
Israeli soldier Corporal Hillel Nehemiah Ofen tragically passed away during a military training exercise in the Kola forest near Elad. The 20-year-old soldier collapsed and died, leaving his family and fellow soldiers devastated by the loss. On Tuesday evening, Ofen was laid to rest in a poignant ceremony at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl.
The grieving mother of Corporal Ofen expressed the profound pain of losing her son, saying, How do you eulogize a son? My dear and beloved son. Your face is the face of an angel, how cute. You loved peace and pursued peace. Her heartfelt words captured the depth of her sorrow and the cherished memories she held of her son.
Ofen’s brother and sister also paid tribute to the fallen soldier. His brother, Shmeya, shared his heartache at the missed opportunity to spend more time with Hillel. He expressed his love for his brother and admired his accomplishments, saying, It is good for you, to be filled with satisfaction in my successful brother. You are so pure, such a good heart.
His sister, Dina, remembered Corporal Ofen as a caring and supportive brother who always went out of his way to help her. Despite their differences, their bond remained strong. She emphasized the importance of family and acknowledged that there would never be another brother like him.
The commander of the Yahalom unit, Col. A., also mourned the loss of Corporal Ofen. He described the soldier as someone who radiated light, optimism, and joy. His physical abilities were commendable, and he was respected as a warrior and a valuable friend.
Corporal Ofen, who hailed from the village of Karmi Tzur, was a member of the Yahalom unit, an elite engineering corps. He was posthumously promoted from private to corporal in recognition of his service. The cause of his tragic death was determined to be dehydration and heat stress in the sweltering training conditions.
Medical teams arrived at the scene and performed CPR on the fallen soldier, but their efforts proved futile. Despite all attempts at resuscitation, Corporal Ofen was pronounced dead.
Corporal Ofen had been in the midst of his training, with plans to join the bomb disposal unit upon completion. His dedication to serving his country was evident throughout his short military career.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) expressed their condolences and underlined that they were unaware of any pre-existing medical conditions that could have contributed to the soldier’s sudden collapse.
Corporal Hillel Nehemiah Ofen’s untimely passing serves as a stark reminder of the risks that soldiers undertake during their training. As the army mourns the loss of one of their own, friends, family, and comrades are left to honor the memory of a dedicated and compassionate warrior who had so much more to offer.
