Karov. Now a lieutenant
Officer wounded in Gaza promoted
Aharon Karov, who made impossible recovery from critical shrapnel wounds, becomes a lieutenant
Saturday's Paratroopers' Brigade training graduation ceremony, for soldiers who enlisted in March 2008, was an especially heartwarming sight.
Aharon Karov, who made an impossible recovery after being critically wounded during Operation Cast Lead, received the rank of lieutenant at the ceremony held in Beit Lid Saturday.
Miraculous Recovery
Meital Yasur Beit-Or
2nd Lt. Aharon Karov was called up for service in Gaza the morning after his wedding and critically wounded in combat. Today he said saluted the doctors who three weeks ago gave him scant hours to live – and left the hospital
Karov was alerted to the battle in Gaza the day after his wedding and fought with the paratroopers who commanded the northern Strip. He was seriously wounded when his force stumbled upon a booby-trapped house on January 13, and sustained over 300 shrapnel injuries.
Against all odds, Karov made a miraculous recovery and even managed to go home for certain periods during his treatment. He also maintained close contact with the troops under his command.
The young commander spoke with his soldiers during the ceremony, hugged each one of them, and personally bestowed upon each his combat pin. He was saluted and urged to return to the brigade as soon as possible.
"It was more than exciting to see Aharon, who only two months ago was hovering between life and death, come here and stand with his soldiers as an irreplaceable part of the squadron. There's no doubt he will return as an ordinary commander," said one of the soldiers present at the ceremony.
He said Karov was still receiving treatment and that the time of his return remained unclear, but that he was deserving of his new rank. "There wasn't a single person watching the ceremony that wasn't moved," he said.
