Michael Levin (soldier): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''Michael Levin''' (born February 17, 1984 in [[Holland, Pennsylvania|Holland]], [[Pennsylvania]] - died August 1, 2006 in [[Ayta ash-Shab]], [[Lebanon]]) was an [[Israel]]i soldier who emigrated from the [[United States]] and joined the [[Paratroopers Brigade]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces]]. Levin took part in the first round of fighting in the Lebanese town of [[Ayta ash-Shab|Ayta ash-Sha’b]] during the [[2006 Lebanon War|Second Lebanon War]], and was [[killed in action]]. His death inspired the creation of a support organization for other immigrant soldiers in Israel, and a memorial to him was built in [[Jerusalem]].

Levin's friend Omer Yaniv, from the same paratrooper unit, gave a graphic description of the chaotic circumstances surrounding Levin’s death. The 890th Paratrooper Battalion came under heavy fire as they advanced into the town. The soldiers could not identify the source of the fire. The battalion’s units got separated when running for coveraway. Levin’s platoon hid in the back room of an empty store. A [[Hezbollah]] fighter managed to get close and fire straight into the small room, hitting Levin in the head. After several hours reinforcements finally reached the building and managed to extract them.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.gvura.org/a344325-כשהחדר-מלא-דם-כמו-בסרטים-זה-נראה-כמו-צבע-לא-קשור| title = כשהחדר מלא דם (As if the room was filled with blood) | publisher = אתר הגבורה (Heroism site) | author= Ro’i Amos | date= September 2, 2011| accessdate= 2011-11-10}}</ref>

Levin was one of three Israeli soldiers killed in Ayta ash-Sha'b that day. Another 27 soldiers were wounded. For several hours, the Israeli soldiers fought fiercely and killed some 15 Hezbollah fighters, according to the IDF. The wounded were treated at the spot under heavy fire, as an evacuation was deemed almost impossible.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://info.jpost.com/C002/Supplements/CasualtiesOfWar/2006_08_02.html | title = 3 soldiers killed in Hizbullah ambush 5 brigades battle village by village in S. Lebanon | publisher = | author= Yaakov Katz | date= Aug 2, 2006| accessdate= 2011-11-10}}</ref>

A local commander of Hezbollah after the war guided [[Al Jazeera]] though Ayta ash-Sha’b and showed them the store where the paratroopers where holed up, and where Michael Levin was killed.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFcNs5zQ8U&feature=endscreen&NR=1 | title = Hizbullah Tactics During War 3-3| publisher = al-Jazeera /Youtube | author= | date= | accessdate= Dec 4, 2011}} (Arabic)</ref>

A memorial for Levin was erected at [[Ammunition hill|Ammunition Hill]] in [[Jerusalem]], the sitecite of a major [[Battle of Ammunition Hill|battle]] during the [[Six-Day War]].<ref>http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/12728/Monument_to_Honor_Fallen_American/</ref>

The [[Lone Soldier Center|Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin]] was created in 2009 by a large group of individuals who had served as [[lone soldier]]s in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The center operates from branches in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. It provides services to lone soldiers such as help finding housing, organized Sabbath and holiday meals and counseling.