Two hundred and fifteen war heroes were honored at ceremonies here today with the award of medals for their bravery during the Yom Kippur War. One hundred of them had died in action and were represented at the ceremonies by wives, young children, parents, brothers or other next of kin. Another 17 heroes, whose identities were not revealed for security reasons, received their medals at closed-door ceremonies also held tonight, eve of “Jerusalem Day,” the eighth anniversary of Israel’s taking East Jerusalem.
A committee under Gen, Menahem Maron, head of training command, had recommended the awards, after examining proposals made by field commanders. The committee approved, too, 218 “Citations for Merit” (which are lesser than medals) and these will be awarded at a later date, Eight of the heroes, five living and three dead, received the Israel army’s highest honor, the “Medal for Valor” (Gevura), These were issued at a special ceremony this afternoon at the residence of President Ephraim Katzir, Earlier in the day Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur presented 76 medals for “Courage” and 131 for “Exemplary Conduct” to servicemen or the families of dead servicemen at a similar ceremony at the Binyanei Ha’ooma.
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