סיפור חייו

His Life Story

 

Childhood

Tamir was born on, August 8, 1961. He grew up in kibbutz Kfar Masarik, 3rd generation of the kibbutz founders, first-born to Giora and Yehudit.  He was educated in the children's group. His friends in the kibbutz remember him as a good and handsome child, emanating peace and calm, and a talented youth who spoke sparingly.

 

Youth

Tamir studied in the district education center "Naaman".  He was an outstanding student, devoted in his studies, and valued their importance. He was into sports and played in the "Matee Asher" volleyball  team and devoted leader in "Hashomer Hatzair". Already as a youth, he stood out with his deep conviction in the values on which he was raised, and in his adamant wish to contribute to the state and the society in which he was raised and lived.

 

Army

In October 1979 Tamir was recruited to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), the Golany patrol, and went through the unit training course, finished the officer's course, and returned to command a young team, with which he went into the Galil War for Peace, and into the Beaufort battle, where six of his patrol friends were killed.

 

The day after its conquering, Tamir met on the Beaufort peak with the Prime Minister at the time, Menachem Begin,  and the Minister of Defense at the time, Ariel Sharon, who came to visit. The pictures taken at this meeting, which were published in the media, became one of the symbols of the Lebanon war.

 

The soldiers he commanded said they were impressed with his kind heart, his smile, his pleasant manner, and the authority he projected. He was described as a man above and beyond, an excellent and trustworthy commander, who always directed his unit, took care of his soldiers, supported and  encouraged  them, and tried to care for all their needs.

 

In 1983 Tamir was promoted as Deputy to Commander of the Golany patrol.

In 1984 he completed his military service.

 

Family

In 1986 Tamir married his girl friend Orly Ben-Dayan, whom he met during his army service. Following that, he began Electrical Engineering studies at the Technion, at the end of which he joined the Silma staff (a company of Silora) in Kfar Masarik. Until 1995, Tamir and Orly lived in Kfra Masarik, where their sons, Roy and Guy were born.

 

Tamir was active and involved in Kibbutz life, and took various social roles.

In 1995, Tamir and his wife Orly chose to move to moshav Ben Shemen (village), where they built their home. In November 1998, Tamir and Orly's 3rd son Dan was born.

 

Reserve Service

During all the years since Tamir left the army service (1984), he served in a reserve patrol squadron of the "Karmeli" infantry brigade, in which his father Giora also served.

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In 1997 he was appointed the patrol commander, and raised in rank to major.

In 2001 he ended his role as commander of the patrol, and continued to accopany it within his role in the brigade headquarters.

 

Work

Tamir worked at his profession as an electrical engineer, first at the Motorola company, and lately as the development engineer of  Intercure company, which developed a medical instrument for reducing blood pressure.

 

Friends

At moshav Ben Shemen, Tamir was involved in community activities. He participated in educational and social activities, and was among the initiators of erecting a sports field for the children of the moshav. Tamir maintained contact with Ben Shemen residents, his patrol friends in regular and reserve service, his work friends, and members of kibbutz Kfar Masarik.

 

Tamir's fall

As part of his role at the brigade command, Tamir went for his reserve service in 2002, in which he had to organize various units for guarding the west bank and border line settlements. Tamir arrived on Sunday 27.10.2002, at the Ariel gas station – a meeting point of the many soldiers for proceeding to their destination, where he was to appoint them to their guard missions at the settlements at the west bank. Suddenly a suicide terrorist arrived.  Tamir and other soldiers fought him, then a bomb he wore on his body exploded. In this battle Major Tamir Masad, Sergeant Major Amihood Hasid, and Lieutenant Matan Zaguri were killed.

May they be remembered.