Photo By Sgt. Yesenia Cadavid | Israeli Ground Force Lt. Col. Moshe Levy, a hero during the Yom Kippur War, describes...... read more read more
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At 7:30 a.m. on October 15, 1973, the Egyptian Army began attacking bunkers at Fort Budapest for the second time. The base gave the Israel Ground Forces access to Port Said and controlled the Mediterranean Sea that provided entrance to the Suez Canal. Two Israeli vehicles were exploded and Israeli Ground Force Cpl. Moshe Levy, who was thirty minutes away, received a call from the base to report to the scene. The phone call would ultimately change Levy’s life.
Back in June, 2022, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command commanding general had the honor to meet Levy during a visit to the Israeli Defense Force air defense counterparts in Israel.
In 1973, the Yom Kippur War was an armed conflict fought from 6-25 October 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. Corporal Moshe Levy was appointed to command a half-track of 19 soldiers for the Israeli Armored Corps.
Originally, Levy was told there were 30 Egyptian commandos at the scene, but it was revealed to be 200. Levy was part of a company of 90 Israeli troops.
When Levy arrived at the bunker, the Egyptian troops immediately began firing at their 9 vehicles.
One of the rockets hit the chain in Levy’s vehicle and the driver notified him that it was unable to be driven. Levy acknowledged and went straight to his gunman and told him the plan.
“You need to start shooting with the gun and everybody prepare to go down and protect the bunkers,” said Levy. 0615
The gunman raised concern that there were bullets flying and if he stood up to shoot, he would be killed, leaving his two children with no father.
Levy then decided he was going to be the one to stand up and return fire at the Egyptians. He did not know how long he was going to be able to hold the fire, but he told his crew they needed to get off the vehicle and continue fighting.
Levy recalls looking at his chest and thinking, “What is the first bullet that is going to hit me,” because at the time they did not have chest plates or body armor.
He quickly strategized before firing the gun on the vehicle. He supposed if he started shooting the gun before standing up, the Egyptians would go down to get cover. While they were under cover, he would then stand up and continue to shoot.
However, the plan quickly changed.
When Levy raised his right arm up to grab the machine, an AT-3 Sagger missile blasted through his arm cutting it through the middle. He quickly realized the severity of the situation, one missile hit the lower part of the vehicle, then another missile hit above the vehicle, it was going to be a matter of seconds before the third missile hit the vehicle.
He told his soldiers to jump off the vehicle and head to the ocean side. Seven of the soldiers that jumped were hit with bullets. Four soldiers refused to jump and remained in the vehicle, but a minute later a missile hit the vehicle and the four soldiers were killed.
Levy was on the ground with his soldiers, losing blood quickly from his right arm. He knew that the Egyptian troops were going to walk over and finish them off.
“I knew I was not going to stay alive, so I tried the Uzi submachine gun, but it did not work so I dropped it,” said Levy. “So, I took a grenade and opened it with my teeth, which broke my two-front teeth.”
Levy held the grenade firmly in his left hand and faced the enemy. The Egyptian troops focused on his right arm, which had bones sticking out and blood pouring. They did not notice his left hand held the grenade. Levy walked slowly towards them and stopped about 10 meters. Levy began seeing stars from blood loss. He knew he needed to quickly throw the grenade before he passed out. Levy rolled the grenade to the enemy, and it exploded. The grenade fragments also wounded Levy and the blast made him fall. Most of the Egyptian troops were killed and some wounded.
As Levy laid injured, he reflected on the scene.
“I did my job and now I will die quietly,” said Levy. “But I remembered I have two children at home.”
Levy slowly went to his feet, but as soon as he stood up, an Egyptian soldier shot him in the back. He braced himself and continued to bring one foot in front of the other focused on returning to his soldiers. He arrived at his half-track where medics were on the scene with helicopters.
The rescue team attempted giving Levy blood, but he experienced a blood clot. He was sent to a hospital in Jerusalem to receive surgery. Levy was in the hospital for 8 months for his injuries.
Fort Budapest was the only fort not captured. Levy received a Medal of Valor for his bravery and selfless service. He now continues to serve his country as a Lt. Col in the Israeli Ground Forces reserves.
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2022 09:34 |
| Story ID: | 430650 |
| Location: | IL |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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