A reservist battalion in the north. Photo: IDF Spokesperson

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Major (res.) Eitan Shimonovitch is in the middle of packing his suitcase for the long trip he plans on taking with his friends in South Africa.  Suddenly, the phone rings and his plans change.  He empties his suitcase of his bathing suit and camping gear and begins filling it with his army uniform and equipment- this, just one day before he is meant to fly.  The Second Lebanon War has broken out- Eitan is needed in the reserve corps.

"The tickets to South Africa, with their no return policies, were already in my hand," remembers Eitan of that fateful day.  "After my commander heard my predicament, he told me not to cancel my trip but I knew I had no real choice.  I had to cancel.  I had lost a lot of money but I felt good about my decision.  I knew that I could never travel outside the country when my comrades needed me most."
 
The fear of Katyushas: "We had to think of the others first"

Itan's story is a story that all reservists share. Much like him, each reservist must pick up and leave their family, work and plans, to join the combat arena.  During this year's National Reservists Appreciation Day the reservists who fought in the Second Lebanon War were commended for their contribution in the war.   Among the four outstanding reservist of the Logistics Branch honored with certificates of excellence that day, were Major (res.) Eitan Shiminovitch and Staff Sergeant (res.) Nissim Susya, (45).  Susya, a father of three, left his family and joined the war as a reservist responsible for the vehicles of the 36th division.  "I accepted the call of duty without any hesitation.  I had served in Lebanon for two years during Operation Peace for Galilee as a supply truck driver. I wasn?t afraid to go back." During the previous war, he led a caravan of Lorries into Lebanese territory.  His job was to fix the Lorries in case they were damaged- even under rocket fire.  "There were a number of times that Katyushas were falling down all around us.  It was our job to worry about the soldiers' safety first and then to think of our own," adds Nissim.

Major (res.) Eitan also remembers the miracles that saved him from the falling Katyushas.  There was one point during the battle where he was alone, guarding a base, after switching guard duty with a fellow officer.  A Katyusha fell, several meters from where he was standing.  The shockwave of the rocket blast threw back the officer guarding the post before him.  "Towards the beginning of the war I was posted in a relatively safe place, in a bore in the Northern Command.  The problem was that it was difficult for us to receive information on all the happenings of the war, especially information concerning the positions of enemy forces in the field.  It was extremely dangerous to leave the bore and enter the field, but it had to be done in order to get the needed information from the unit's commanders", he explained.
The team that Eitan commanded was successful in obtaining dozens of light weapons, mortars and ammunitions left over from Hezbollah operations in the field, greatly helping the war effort.  Nissim's team was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the transport vehicles and jeeps in the 36 division.  The two noted that the main factor which helped them get through the hardest days of battle were the men that served with them.  "I felt a duty to my commanders.  I could neither abandon nor neglect them," explained Nissim.  Eitan, who normally works as a lawyer added, "the reserve corps is appreciated by every level of society in this country.  My closest friends come from my reserve unit, so I had no hesitation in joining when I was called up for duty."

When the war was over, Eitan and Nissim both decided to continue to serve as reservists; generally serving for a month each year.  "From my point of view, reserve service is a great opportunity to influence and to contribute.  One must remember that you are the only one that can protect your own home.  While it is true that the past decade has not been the best period for the men in the reserve corps, I feel that after the previous war people are realizing the massive contribution the reserve corps gives to this country anew."

"I feel very proud to have received this certificate of excellence.  I know that my contribution to this war did not go unnoticed by my commanders," concluded Nissim. Adding," I am proud to say I am a member of the IDF reserves."