Shamai Kaplan

Shamai Kaplan was born in 1939 in Tel Aviv

Shamai Kaplan was born in Tel Aviv on February 9, 1939, to Dvora and Shmuel. His father was active in the Irgun and was imprisoned as an underground member. He grew up in Ramat Gan and studied at Ohel Shem high school, then moved to the Kadoorie Agricultural School.

He joined the IDF in May 1957 and served in the Armored Corps. He completed tank commander and armor officer courses and held posts as platoon commander and operations officer. He later commanded a Centurion tank company in Battalion 82.

In 1964, during the War over Water, he led an ambush near Tel Dan that failed, and an inquiry ordered by Israel Tal held him responsible. In 1965 he led a successful strike on Syrian tanks and vehicles working to divert the Jordan River sources. He also served as an instructor and company commander in the officers course.

In the Six-Day War he commanded a company attached to Battalion 82 of the 7th Brigade and was named deputy battalion commander after Eli Globus fell. He was wounded but kept fighting until he was killed west of Bir Gifgafa in Sinai on June 8, 1967. He was married to Nava and had a son and a daughter.

He was first buried near Kibbutz Be'eri and was moved to the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in May 1968. A memorial to him built in Sinai was later moved to the Defenders Forest.