'Whatever you do, do it your best': The story of Master Sgt. Etay Azulay
He was born at 36 weeks, as though he were in a hurry to enter the world, and from that moment on, he never stopped moving. Master Sgt. Etay Azulay, a soldier in the IDF's Commando Brigade, was killed in combat on the Lebanese border on October 6, 2024, at the age of 25. He is survived by his parents, Zohar and Arik, his younger brother, Tomer, his partner and left behind countless friends who still struggle to come to terms with the loss of the energetic, funny and stubborn young man who turned every challenge into a success story.
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The restless child who became a protective older brother
As a child, Etay was energetic, restless and hyperactive. "He was always on the move," recalls his mother, Zohar. "He was either jumping off something, climbing something or rolling around." His room was always a mess, but beneath all that boundless energy was an enormous, sensitive heart. When his younger brother, Tomer, was born, Etay naturally stepped into the role of a protective older brother. When their parents worked late, Etay would take Tomer to kindergarten and school, wait for him at the end of the day and make sure he got home safely. "He looked after me and raised me," Tomer recalls wistfully.
For Etay, giving up was never an option. With the same determination that became his trademark, he fought to earn his high school matriculation certificate and ultimately succeeded. Despite his academic struggles, Etay was always guided by his heart. He was a natural charmer, exceptionally sociable and able to find common ground and strike up a conversation with anyone within seconds.
'An incredible soldier'
At 16, Etay began training rigorously in preparation for military service. He grew more disciplined and focused, knowing exactly where he wanted to go. He enlisted in Sayeret Matkal, the IDF's elite reconnaissance unit, and after about a year transferred to the Duvdevan commando unit. His teammate, identified as Y., recalls their first meeting: "We immediately saw that he was a soldier on another level. An incredible guy. Within just a few days, he had become one of the team's leaders."
Etay grew into a strong, resilient young man and a role model for his younger brother, Tomer, who would look at the injuries Etay brought home from military service and wonder how he could keep going with a smile and his familiar reassurance: "It's all good. Nothing to worry about." After a meaningful military service filled with operational missions, Etay also knew when it was time to stop. He felt he had done his part and was ready to move on to the next chapter of his life.
The dean's list student who balanced two worlds
The transition to civilian life brought a remarkable transformation. The young man who had struggled for every grade in high school enrolled in an engineering preparatory program at Ariel University. Etay maintained an extraordinarily demanding and meticulously organized schedule, juggling rigorous studies, work, a committed relationship, family and friends, yet somehow never neglecting anyone. His greatest achievement came when he earned a place on the dean's list, a remarkable full-circle moment for someone who had struggled throughout his school years.
When war broke out, Etay immediately reported for reserve duty. He fought in Gaza before moving north with his unit. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, as his unit was returning from an operational mission in Lebanon, a barrage of missiles was fired toward the transport force. One missile struck a tree just a few yards away, and Etay was killed by the force of the blast.
His guiding message: 'Do it your best'
Etay's absence is felt at every social gathering, where his friends still play recordings of his distinctive laugh, and in the small, everyday moments that leave his family heartbroken. His father, Arik, who now rides alone along the routes they once traveled together, has found comfort in a phrase that continues to guide the family and serves as a tribute to his son's memory: "Whatever you do, do it your best."
That was Etay: a man for whom nothing came easily, yet who, through extraordinary perseverance, reached the highest levels in everything he pursued. His brother, Tomer, sums up the legacy he left behind: "Get up, love more, respect more and try, every single day, to be just a little more worthy."
Master Sgt. Etay Azulay, a soldier in the Commando Brigade, was killed on October 6, 2024, at the age of 25.
May his memory be a blessing.
Master Sergeant
Etay Azulay