Hi,
I guess you do not understand that you are lucky until you see those who are unlucky or when you yourself run out of luck.
We are about to get in again and crossing the border to Lebanon, and for the first time since this war began, I am being a bit worried we might run out of luck.
See, this is the second time we are in to fighting in Lebanon. When you are in, you do not think about it much (as long as you have something to do and keep your mind. For this, at least, being a commander is a benefit). We have been called once to Gaza strip in Netzarim corridor (I did not even count, but I think we got in 3 times for a total of two months). We have been along the Lebanon border in the Hasbani valley for two months. We have been in the Golan Heights for about 2 and a half months.
All in all, the battilion had one casualty from fighting, and he also was only an injury. He was not from our company, meaning our company (and our squadron in it) had no casualties from fighting.
You can say it was because we were not in the front line, but one leg behind. You can say it was because we were professionals and kept ourselves well. But you can not ignore the fact that we were lucky.
The mortar shell that fell near us in Gaza strip while we had tons of explosives around us (as also happened to other team). Or the time we got shot at by other IDF soldiers in Gaza strip, and luckily none got hit.
Will we run out of luck? It is a matter of statistics. The longer you are fighting, the higher the risk, and you can only pray to get out alive and safe.
Take Care
Gad
Buckets of ANFO explosive and Tzefa Hir
Climbing the truck that will take us in, for some reason it reminded me the scene from Hair and the song Let the Sun Shine was in my head
Two Tzefa Hir explosives we fired
An explosion of charge we used to blow up and open a safe
Looking over Metula (left down) and Naftali mountains (with Manara on top of it)