Shiran Amsili’s life (35) is spilt: his life prior to July 26, and after that day..
The war
On July 26th 2006, Shiran entered Lebanon with his "Gollany" brothers in arms of the 51st infantry battalion.
Equipped with his ceramic vest, a light machine gun and thousands of rounds, they made their way into the town Bint Jbeil.
They didn’t imagine they were entering a well concealed ambush. Between 100 and 150 Hezbollah terrorists were laying in wait for them, once entering the "kill zone" of the ambush site they were hit from all directions by heavy machine guns, grenades and anti tank rocket fire… they were shocked, the force was caught in a desperate position, now fighting for their lives.
8 soldiers were killed, 27 injured. In the chaos that ensued, there was nobody to command the force.
Shiran was of the first to realize what had happened. He took his light machine gun and climbed to a higher position exposing himself to the inferno. From there, he shot long bursts at the Hizballah terrorists. Shiran ended up firing in excess of 3000 rounds of continues suppressive fire and did not stop even when the bullets fired at him, kicked up dirt mere centimeters from his body.
Hours later, the fight was over, Shiran killed over 17 confirmed terrorists, most likely more, succeeded in preventing the slaughter of his teammates while enabling the care of his injured brothers in arms, foiling the plan of the terrorists to mutilate and kidnap his fallen brothers.
Following the second Lebanon war, Shiran received the medal of honor in a ceremony under the name: “Due to their might of spirit” for his exceptional courage under fire.
A True Hero!
Post Trauma
Little did he realize, Shiran’s war was far from over. In fact, it had just begun.
From his high point being acknowledged for his heroism, a steep plummet started.
After his discharge He started suffering from horrible nightmares, countless nights without sleep, rattled nerves, anxiety attacks… He and his father, Yossi. didn’t understand his condition. Maybe it was denial. The memories of his killed and injured brothers in arms kept haunting his soul.
Shiran tried to rejoin life, find a job, meet friends, but his mental anguish persisted. The nightmares and anxiety attacks were steadily getting worse and his family started understanding the problem was bigger than they had realized. Now the reality of his condition hit them: Shiran was suffering from acute and severe post trauma. Yossi, who worked his whole life as a contractor, had to stop working so he could take care of his son full time.
Shiran was officially diagnosed. He was provided with 20% disability rights by the ministry of defense, he started getting mental treatments and medication which initially helped stabilize his condition.
For a short time it seemed like his life was getting back on track, but not for long.
The economical struggle
Today, 14 years later. Shiram lives with his father in a small rented housing project in Kiryat Gat. He is unemployed after being unable to hold a steady job. The nightmares are still plaguing his soul, the anxiety attacks too. Yossi keeps an eye on him 24 hours a day like a small child.
Their financial situation is dire. Yossi and Shiran's disability benefits totalling a mere few thousand shekels a month is barely enough to get by. Shiran spends his nights on an old mattress on the floor surrounded by cardboard boxes in his small room.
Recently, their landlord gave them a notice to evict the house they live in. They can’t afford a place of their own, the money they have is barely enough for their food and medications.
They need our help! Shiran needs our help!
Yossi is 65 years old and is himself dependent on social benefits. His biggest fear is that he won’t be able to take care of Shiran, and Shiran will be thrown to the streets in his condition.
He needs your help with providing his son a roof over his head. He needs Shiran to have a safe place to live in, a place of his own.
Israeli soldiers are instilled from their first day in the army, that no matter how far from home, how dire the situation or how hopeless the battle, we never leave our soldiers behind.
Its time we make true on our commitment to never leave a wounded brother behind… Shiran gave his all to our country. Now its our turn to give back.
• All the donations are being intrusted to a trust fund that will be manged by a trustee for the sole purpose creating a home for Shiran.
