Staff Sgt. Dror Paz, z”l

Staff Sergeant Dror Paz, son of Tzipora and Zvi, brother to Inbal, Lior, Ronen, and Haggai, was born and raised in Kibbutz Mishmar Ha’emek. As a child, he lost his mother. His father later remarried, and Dror grew close to the newly formed family.

Dror attended the elementary school in his kibbutz. He later studied at the “Shomriya” educational institute. He was an opinionated, diligent, and caring student – tough on the outside, gentle on the inside. Years later, his parents wrote: “He was a redhead with very consistent desires… he wore a cloak of toughness, but only outwardly. Inside, he was delicate and sensitive.”

As a boy, Dror was responsible and serious, mature beyond his years. He was gifted with golden hands. He loved nature and animals, adopted a stray dog and raised it with devotion, cared for horses, and even participated in horse races. At the end of 12th grade, he wrote his final project on “Fertilization of Natural Pastures in the Fall.” He insisted on conducting a real-life experiment in nature rather than relying solely on published findings.

Unique and special, true and loyal to himself. Dror was a blend of contrasts: a young man who always organized trips and bonfires on Lag BaOmer, yet also an introvert. He was socially involved, but knew how to withdraw and read a book alone, detached from the surrounding noise, in a state of inner calm.

Dror was a giving person who always lent a hand. Quiet, he spoke little but did much, a man of quiet leadership. A tall and handsome young man, he was skilled at water skiing. He loved his family, loved kibbutz life and home, and always cared for everyone around him.

In February 1979, Dror enlisted in the IDF's Shayetet 13. He fulfilled his dream when he transferred to the naval engineering unit’s boat division. Dror became an outstanding NCO in river-crossing operations and was known as a dedicated, professional, determined, respected, and beloved soldier. His commander said, “Dror always did what was required of him and even fought to take on additional tasks. His friends trusted him completely because he was someone they could rely on. Within our unit, he took part in many missions, the kind that are never spoken of.”

On April 8, 1981, Dror fell during an operational activity – a river-crossing exercise on the Jordan River. He was 20 years old. He was laid to rest in Kibbutz Mishmar Ha’Yarden. His parents wrote: “Twenty springs – a whole world! So little time to live. A world cut short at its very beginning, and yet a whole world.”

May his memory be blessed.