Staff Sergeant Nir Cohen
Nir was supposed to celebrate his 23rd birthday on Friday. Instead of holding the planned birthday party, his family members held his funeral on that day. Nir was a tour guide for groups of teenagers from abroad who would visit Israel, the last of which happened to be BZD’s Teen Trip of Summer 2006. Family members said that, "He was supposed to serve as a medic but he told his commanders he missed driving in the tank, and thus received the mission, from which he did not return." His sister Noa said: "Since he left for his reserve duty we were worried about him, and he called every day to calm us down when there were incidents. Yesterday, throughout the whole day I had a bad feeling. When I tried to reach him I couldn't. At night when the officers of the army came I wasn't surprised." His good friend Hadar Nofer recalled, "A few days ago in a chilling conversation he told me he was going into Lebanon. Before we finished the conversation, he told me, 'You must say goodbye, I may not come back.'"
Nir was killed on August 9, 2006 when Hezbollah terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at his tank in the western section of southern Lebanon. He was 23 years old.
Nir was killed on August 9, 2006 when Hezbollah terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at his tank in the western section of southern Lebanon. He was 23 years old.