Man who raised Ink Flag over Eilat passes away
09/30/2012 03:12
PM, defense minister salute Gen. Adan, who outflanked Egyptian forces in Yom Kippur War.
Raising of the Ink Flag Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Former OC Southern Command and Yom Kippur War hero Maj.-Gen. (res.) Avraham (Bren) Adan died in his Ramat Hasharon home on Thursday night at the age of 86.
Born in Kfar Giladi in 1926, Adan joined the Palmah in 1943 through the Hashomer Hatza’ir youth movement, and was a founding member of Kibbutz Nirim and Kibbutz Gvulot.
Adan fought in the War of Independence as a company commander in the 8th Battalion of the Negev Brigade. He participated in Operation Uvda, capturing the Jordanian outpost of Umm Rashrash, now known as Eilat, and was among those who raised the Ink Flag, which was handmade out of a white sheet and a bottle of ink, claiming the territory for Israel. Most recently, Adan served as the IDF attach? in Washington.
In 1967, he became deputy commander of the Armored Corps, and presided over armored vehicles in the Sinai Peninsula during the Six Day War.
During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Adan commanded a division that fought and outflanked Egypt’s Third Army at the Suez Canal. He became OC Southern Command shortly afterwards, before being appointed to the attache position.
Adan leaves behind three children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow following the news of Adan’s death, saying, “A brave warrior and commander has just passed away. [He was] one of the symbols of the State of Israel. The legacy of the man, who helped write the history of the State of Israel, will stay with us forever.”
Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed his condolences and saluted the general on Friday. “Bren was one of the IDF’s prominent field commanders,” he said.
“He established norms that remain with the IDF to this day, by setting a personal example and displaying exemplary coolness under fire,” the defense minister added.
President Shimon Peres said Adan “devoted his life, from the dawn of his youth, to the security and strengthening of the State of Israel.”
He added that “Bren was a fantastic fighter and a fantastic commander... He led full generations of soldiers in the armor brigades.”
The IDF released a statement saying that Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz and top military brass salute Adan’s memory and send their condolences to his family.