Dan Shomron: Difference between revisions

Dan Shomron
Dan Shomron
Born	August 5, 1937; Ashdot Ya'akov, Mandatory Palestine
Died	February 26, 2008 (aged 70); Herzliya, Israel
Allegiance	Israel
Service / branch	Israel Defense Forces
Years of service	1955–1991
Rank	Rav Aluf (Chief of Staff; highest rank)
Commands	Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, Commander GOC Army Headquarters, Commander of the IDF
Battles / wars	Suez Crisis; Six-Day War; War of Attrition; Yom Kippur War; Operation Entebbe; 1982 Lebanon War; South Lebanon conflict; First Intifada
Awards	Medal of Distinguished Service
Other work	Chairman of Israeli Military Industries

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Lieutenant General Daniel Shomron (Hebrew: דן שומרון; August 5, 1937 – February 26, 2008) was the 13th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), from 1987 to 1991.

Biography

Shomron was the eldest of three children of Tova and Eliyahu Dozorets-Shimron from Kibbutz Ashdot Ya'akov. He enlisted in the IDF in 1955, and volunteered for the Paratrooper brigade. He was assigned to Battalion 890. During his enlistment, his surname was mistakenly noted as Shomron.^[1] He underwent the paratrooper combat training, and then went to the infantry squad commander course, during which he participated in several operations, including the raid on the Jordanian police building in A-Rahwe, Operation Gulliver and Operation Lulav.

Shomron was a squad commander during the 1956 Sinai campaign. After the Sinai war, Shomron completed Infantry Officers Course and served as a platoon commander in his brigade. In 1959 he finished his military service and returned to his kibbutz to work as a truck driver until 1962. He re-enlisted in 1962 and was assigned as a company commander in the paratrooper battalion of the Nahal Brigade. In 1964, he served as deputy commander of the 202 battalion.^[2] In 1966 he was appointed as the acting battalion commander after the Yoav Shaham, the battalion commander, was killed during Operation Shreder in the As-Samu village. Later in the year, Shomron began his studies in the IDF's Command and Staff college ("PUM").

During the Six-Day War, he commanded a unit on the Egyptian front, and was the first paratrooper to reach the Suez Canal. He was decorated with the Medal of Distinguished Service for this action. In 1974, Shomron received the command over the Infantry Corps and Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF. He planned and commanded Operation Entebbe in 1976, during which Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) was killed fulfilling his duty as breaching force commander.^[3] Although Shomron was proclaimed a hero for that role, he did not always feel comfortable with that appellation, saying:

I also felt some kind of envy from the military and it was not comfortable for me. Around the world, until today, they look at me like something from a different world, a super super-hero, something not natural. I don't like that feeling of being an advertisement.

When asked what he most remembered about Operation Entebbe and the rescuing of the hostages, he said,

When the hostages board the evacuation plane, are helped up, each one checking his family that everyone is present. That was a strong moment that I can't forget.

In 1978, Shomron was in charge of the evacuation and dismantling of Yamit and army bases in the Sinai Peninsula, which occurred within the framework of the Camp David Accords with Egypt.

In 1983, Shomron established the ground forces command, to be in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps. He was its first commander.

In 1987, Shomron became the 13th Chief of Staff of the IDF, holding this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the Israeli Military Industries.

Dan Shomron died on February 26, 2008, at a hospital in Herzliya, Israel from complications of a brain aneurysm that struck him three weeks earlier. He was 70-years-old.^[4]^[5]

Shomron was played by Harris Yulin in the film Victory at Entebbe (1976). He was portrayed by Charles Bronson in Raid on Entebbe (1977). He was played by Vincent Riotta in the 2018 film Entebbe.

Recognition

In 1973, he received the Medal of Distinguished Service as a Maj. as a result of his actions during the Six Day War.^[6]

In 1977, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.^[7]^[8]

In 2009, the Kinneret Center on Peace, Security and Society was renamed The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace.^[9]

References

^ Meidan, Anat (July 1, 2011). "Musaf Leshabat pages 14–15". Yediot Aharonot.
^ Oren, Amir (October 5, 2006). "צרות של מפסידים". Ha'artez. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021.
^ The Forgotten Hero of Entebbe Ma'ariv, June 16, 2006
^ Former chief of staff Dan Shomron dies at the age of 70, The Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2008
^ Dan Shomron, ex-IDF chief and Entebbe raid commander, dies at 70 Haaretz, February 26, 2008
^ "Medals, The Israel Defense Forces". The Israel Defense Forces.
^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
^ "Our History Photo: The Honorable John J. Sirica, Watergate trial judge and Time magazine's Man of the Year, with General Dan Shomron, paratroop commander of the Entebbe Airport rescue of 103 high-jacked hostages and later the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, on the head table at the 16th annual Banquet of the Golden Plate ceremonies in Orlando, Florida". American Academy of Achievement.
^ "The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace". Kinneret Academic College.

External links

[1] Meidan, Anat (July 1, 2011). "Musaf Leshabat pages 14–15". Yediot Aharonot.

[2] Oren, Amir (October 5, 2006). "צרות של מפסידים". Ha'artez. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021.

[3] The Forgotten Hero of Entebbe Ma'ariv, June 16, 2006

[4] Former chief of staff Dan Shomron dies at the age of 70, The Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2008

[5] Dan Shomron, ex-IDF chief and Entebbe raid commander, dies at 70 Haaretz, February 26, 2008

[6] "Medals, The Israel Defense Forces". The Israel Defense Forces.

[7] "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.

[8] "Our History Photo: The Honorable John J. Sirica, Watergate trial judge and Time magazine's Man of the Year, with General Dan Shomron, paratroop commander of the Entebbe Airport rescue of 103 high-jacked hostages and later the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, on the head table at the 16th annual Banquet of the Golden Plate ceremonies in Orlando, Florida". American Academy of Achievement.

[9] "The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace". Kinneret Academic College.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Israeli Chief of Staff (1937–2008)}}
-{{refimprove|date=January 2013}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
 {{Infobox military person
-|name=Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron
+| name          = Dan Shomron
-|birth_date = August 5, 1937
+| birth_date    = August 5, 1937
-|birth_place = [[Ashdot Ya'akov]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]
+| birth_place   = [[Ashdot Ya'akov]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]
-|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|2|26|1937|8|5}}
+| death_date    = {{death date and age|2008|2|26|1937|8|5}}
-|death_place = [[Herzliya]], Israel
+| death_place   = [[Herzliya]], Israel
-|image = Dan Shomron.png
+| image         = Dan Shomron, Chief of General Staff.jpg
-|allegiance= {{Flag|Israel}}
+| allegiance    = Israel
-|branch={{flagdeco|Israel|tsahal}} [[Israel Defense Forces]]
+| branch        = {{flagdeco|Israel|tsahal}} [[Israel Defense Forces]]
-|serviceyears= 1955–1991
+| serviceyears  = 1955–1991
-|rank= [[File:IDF rav aluf.svg|30px]] [[Rav Aluf]] (highest rank)
+| rank          = [[File:IDF rav aluf rotated.svg|38px]] [[Rav Aluf]] ([[Chief of the General Staff (Israel)|Chief of Staff]]; highest rank)
-|commands= [[Nahal Brigade]], [[Paratroopers Brigade]], Commander [[GOC Army Headquarters]], Commander of the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]
+| commands      = [[Nahal Brigade]], [[Paratroopers Brigade]], Commander [[GOC Army Headquarters]], Commander of the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]
-|battles=[[Suez Crisis]]<br />[[Six Day War]]<br />[[War of Attrition]]<br />[[Yom Kippur War]]<br />[[Operation Entebbe]]<br />[[1982 Lebanon War]]<br />[[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|South Lebanon conflict]]<br />[[First Intifada]]
+| battles       = [[Suez Crisis]]<br />[[Six-Day War]]<br />[[War of Attrition]]<br />[[Yom Kippur War]]<br />[[Operation Entebbe]]<br />[[1982 Lebanon War]]<br />[[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|South Lebanon conflict]]<br />[[First Intifada]]
-|awards=[[Medal of Distinguished Service]]
+| awards        = [[Medal of Distinguished Service]]
-|laterwork=Chairman of [[Israeli Military Industries]]
+| laterwork     = Chairman of [[Israeli Military Industries]]
 }}
-'''Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: דן שומרון) (August 5, 1937 in Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov – February 26, 2008) was the 13th [[Ramatkal|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces]], from 1987 to 1991.
+[[Lieutenant General]] '''Daniel Shomron''' ([[Hebrew]]: דן שומרון; August 5, 1937  – February 26, 2008) was the 13th [[Ramatkal|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF), from 1987 to 1991.
+== Biography ==
-During the [[Six-Day War]] he commanded a unit on the [[Egypt]]ian front and was the first [[paratrooper]] to reach the [[Suez Canal]]. He was decorated with the [[Medal of Distinguished Service]] for this action. He also fought in the 1956 [[Sinai campaign]].
+Shomron was the eldest of three children of Tova and Eliyahu Dozorets-Shimron from Kibbutz [[Ashdot Ya'akov]]. He enlisted in the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] in 1955, and volunteered for the [[Paratroopers Brigade|Paratrooper brigade]]. He was assigned to Battalion 890. During his enlistment, his surname was mistakenly noted as Shomron.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Meidan|first=Anat|date=July 1, 2011|title=Musaf Leshabat pages 14–15|work=Yediot Aharonot}}</ref> He underwent the paratrooper combat training, and then went to the infantry squad commander course, during which he participated in several operations, including the raid on the Jordanian police building in A-Rahwe, Operation Gulliver and Operation Lulav.
+Shomron was a squad commander during the 1956 [[Sinai campaign]]. After the Sinai war, Shomron completed Infantry Officers Course and served as a platoon commander in his brigade. In 1959 he finished his military service and returned to his kibbutz to work as a truck driver until 1962. He re-enlisted in 1962 and was assigned as a company commander in the paratrooper battalion of the [[Nahal Brigade]]. In 1964, he served as deputy commander of the 202 battalion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oren|first=Amir|date=October 5, 2006|title=צרות של מפסידים|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1558531|url-status=live|website=Ha'artez|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007214917/https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1558531 |archive-date=2021-10-07 }}</ref> In 1966 he was appointed as the acting battalion commander after the Yoav Shaham, the battalion commander, was killed during [[Samu incident|Operation Shreder]] in the As-Samu village. Later in the year, Shomron began his studies in the IDF's Command and Staff college ("PUM").
-In 1974 he received the command over the [[Infantry]] and Paratroopers Branch of the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli army]]. He  had planned and commanded the Entebbe rescue operation<ref>[http://www.historama.com/online-resources/articles/israel/dan_shomron_on_1976_entebbe_raid.html The Forgotten Hero of Entebbe] Ma'ariv 16 June 2006</ref> (in which [[Yonatan Netanyahu]], the brother of Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], took part in as the breaching force commander - had been killed). He was acclaimed a hero but did not always seem comfortable with people viewing him as a hero. He said, “I also felt some kind of envy from the military and it was not comfortable for me. Around the world, until today, they look at me like something from a different world, a super super-hero, something not natural. I don’t like that feeling of being an advertisement.”
+During the [[Six-Day War]], he commanded a unit on the [[Six-Day War#Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula|Egyptian front]], and was the first [[paratrooper]] to reach the [[Suez Canal]]. He was decorated with the [[Medal of Distinguished Service]] for this action. In 1974, Shomron received the command over the [[Infantry Corps (Israel)|Infantry Corps]] and [[Paratroopers Brigade]] of the IDF. He planned and commanded [[Operation Entebbe]] in 1976, during which [[Yonatan Netanyahu]] (brother of Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]) was killed fulfilling his duty as breaching force commander.<ref>[http://www.historama.com/online-resources/articles/israel/dan_shomron_on_1976_entebbe_raid.html The Forgotten Hero of Entebbe] ''Ma'ariv'', June 16, 2006</ref> Although Shomron was proclaimed a hero for that role, he did not always feel comfortable with that appellation, saying:
-When asked what was he most remembered about [[Operation Entebbe]], which he planned and commanded, and the rescuing of the hostages, Shomron said, “When the hostages board the evacuation plane, are helped up, each one checking his family that everyone is present. That was a strong moment that I can’t forget.”
+{{quote | I also felt some kind of envy from the military and it was not comfortable for me. Around the world, until today, they look at me like something from a different world, a super super-hero, something not natural. I don't like that feeling of being an advertisement.}}
-He was also in charge of the dismantling of Israeli settlements and army bases in the [[Sinai Peninsula]], within the framework of the [[Camp David Accords]] of 1978 with [[Egypt]].
+When asked what he most remembered about Operation Entebbe and the rescuing of the hostages, he said,
-In 1983 he established the ground forces command (in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps) and was its first commander.
+{{quote | When the hostages board the evacuation plane, are helped up, each one checking his family that everyone is present. That was a strong moment that I can't forget.}}
-At the age of 50, in 1987 he became the 13th Chief Staff of the IDF. He held this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the [[Israeli Military Industries]].
+In 1978, Shomron was in charge of the evacuation and dismantling of [[Yamit]] and army bases in the [[Sinai Peninsula]], which occurred within the framework of the [[Camp David Accords]] with [[Egypt]].
-He died on February 26, 2008, from complications of a brain aneurysm three weeks earlier, at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife and two children.<ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203847470996&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Former chief of staff Dan Shomron dies at the age of 70]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/958259.html Dan Shomron, ex-IDF chief and Entebbe raid commander, dies at 70] Haaretz, 26 February 2008</ref>
+In 1983, Shomron established the [[GOC Army Headquarters|ground forces command]], to be in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps. He was its first commander.
-Shomron was played by [[Charles Bronson]] in the film ''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]'' (1977).<ref>{{cite web |title=Raid on Entebbe |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076594/ |publisher=IMDB |accessdate=2008-11-09}}</ref>
+In 1987, Shomron became the 13th Chief of Staff of the IDF, holding this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the [[Israeli Military Industries]].
-Shomron is considered by many Israelis to be one of the greatest commanders that Israel has ever had.
+Dan Shomron died on February 26, 2008, at a hospital in Herzliya, Israel from complications of a [[brain aneurysm]] that struck him three weeks earlier. He was 70-years-old.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/israel/former-idf-chief-shomron-dies-at-70 Former chief of staff Dan Shomron dies at the age of 70], ''The Jerusalem Post'', February 26, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/958259.html Dan Shomron, ex-IDF chief and Entebbe raid commander, dies at 70] ''Haaretz'', February 26, 2008</ref>
+Shomron was played by [[Harris Yulin]] in the film ''[[Victory at Entebbe]]'' (1976). He was portrayed by [[Charles Bronson]] in ''[[Raid on Entebbe (film)|Raid on Entebbe]]'' (1977).  He was played by [[Vincent Riotta]] in the 2018 film [[Entebbe_(film)|Entebbe]].
+==Recognition==
+In 1973, he received the [[Medal of Distinguished Service]] as a Maj. as a result of his actions during the Six Day War.<ref>{{cite web|title= Medals, The Israel Defense Forces|publisher= The Israel Defense Forces|url= https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/medals-and-decorations/medals//}}</ref>
+In 1977, he received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Our History Photo: The Honorable John J. Sirica, Watergate trial judge and Time magazine's Man of the Year, with General Dan Shomron, paratroop commander of the Entebbe Airport rescue of 103 high-jacked hostages and later the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, on the head table at the 16th annual Banquet of the Golden Plate ceremonies in Orlando, Florida.|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/}}</ref>
+In 2009, the Kinneret Center on Peace, Security and Society was renamed The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Dan Shomron Center for Society, Security and Peace|publisher= Kinneret Academic College|url= https://www.kinneret.ac.il/en/research/research-centers/kinneret-center-on-peace-security-and-society-in-memory-of-dan-shomron/}}</ref>
 ==See also==
+{{Portal|Biography|Israel}}
 *[[History of the Israel Defense Forces#List of Chiefs of the General Staff|List of Israel's Chiefs of the General Staff of IDF]]
@@ Line 44: / Line 59: @@
 ==External links==
 *[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/27/israelandthepalestinians?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews Obituary, ''The Guardian'', 27 February 2008]
-*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3440122.ece Obituary, ''The Times'', 27 February 2008]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100523125028/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3440122.ece Obituary, ''The Times'', 27 February 2008]
-*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/02/29/db2903.xml Obituary, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 29 February 2008]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080305143626/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/02/29/db2903.xml Obituary, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 29 February 2008]
 *[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dan-shomron-commander-of-entebbe-rescue-793673.html Obituary, ''The Independent'', 10 March 2008]
@@ Line 55: / Line 70: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Shomron, Dan}}
-[[Category:Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces]]
 [[Category:1937 births]]
 [[Category:2008 deaths]]
+[[Category:Chiefs of the General Staff (Israel)]]
 [[Category:Recipients of the Medal of Distinguished Service]]
+[[Category:Operation Entebbe]]
+[[Category:People from Northern District (Israel)]]
+[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in Israel]]
+[[Category:Deaths from intracranial aneurysm]]
+[[Category:Burials at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery]]

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