You know what it's like when you're sad deep inside but you do not show it outwardly? Neria Negri found special ways to see other people's pain. Neria could recognize when a friend was not feeling his best and would not let up until he was able to make him happy. It was impossible to be sad next to 18-year-old Neria, who enlisted in the IDF to be a search and rescue fighter. Neria was not able to complete training for the position, but he acquired these search and rescue skills at an early age long before his passing. Neria had one goal in life: to make everyone around him happy and ensure that they remained happy.
Neria said: “In my military company, there won’t be unhappy soldiers” and spent many hours improving the mood amongst his fellow soldiers. On the eve of the festival of Simchat Torah, Neria made sure that everyone on the base would be truly joyful during the meal. He sang during the meal and made sure to have deep conversations with his new friends in the army.
When the sun rose the next morning there was little to be happy about. The terrorists had already surrounded the Zikim army base, where Neria was serving. Neria and his army friends had just recently enlisted into the army and did not even know how to use the weapons properly. Their commanders instructed them to go into the safe areas and wait . “The commanders put their cubs in a safe place in the back, then charged forward like lions and lionesses," said the mother of a commander who fell in battle regarding the brave step taken by Neria and his friends’ commanders.
The hours ticked by and the battles dragged on and many were injured. A wounded soldier was brought to the hideout where Neria was taking refuge. Volunteers were needed to look after her. Neria was the first to volunteer. He came out of the safe area and carried the wounded soldier on a stretcher whilst bullets and rockets were flying. He ran to get medical supplies for her and was wounded and fell in battle.
The smile on his face will not be forgotten by the great sadness of his passing
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