Dr. Levy Birtulon
82-year old officer brought crash victims home
IDF's oldest officer recounts operation that brought home bodies of IAF men killed in Romania
Dr. Levy Birtulon, the 82-year old IDF officer who commanded the operation that brought home the bodies of victims of a helicopter crash from
Romania, recounted his experience to Ynet on Sunday.
Birtulon arrived from Romania 30 years ago, and has since then served as an officer of forensic medicine. Two days ago, while thousands laid the victims to rest, he was just summing up the mission and returning to his home in Azur.
"I worked in Romania for many years before I received the status of forensic specialist. When I made aliyah, I immediately joined the Medical Corps's casualty identification unit," he says.
Birtulon continued to volunteer his service after the army's retirement age, 52. He has previously identified victims of the first and second Lebanon wars, as well as Operation Cast Lead.
"I received a phone call from my commander in the Medical Corps and understood that there had been a helicopter crash," he recounts. "I packed a bag and went to the base – it was clear to me I had to be there."
The officer stayed busy in Romania, and says he worked round the clock. "I know the Romanian work procedures, the arrangements and local bureaucracy, and this allowed us to jump many hurdles," he says. "We wanted all of the coffins to reach Israel by Friday. I felt responsible and was excited that we succeeded."
Before leaving his home country, Birtulon participated in a ceremony in honor of the six Air Force men killed in the crash. "I stood there in my uniform, and felt we had given these soldiers the highest possible honor," he says.
