Yosef Haguell, the paratrooper whose rescue story became 'Ballad for a Medic', passed away at 80

Yosef Haguell, a paratrooper who was severely wounded in the battles for Jerusalem during the Six-Day War and was saved by medic Shlomo Epstein who shielded him with his body and was killed, passed away at age 80. The story of heroism became identified with the song 'Ballad for a Medic'. Haguell named his eldest son Shlomo after his rescuer, and Epstein's father served as godfather at the circumcision.

Yosef Haguell, a paratrooper who was severely wounded in the battles for Jerusalem during the Six-Day War and was saved by the late medic Shlomo Epstein, passed away at age 80. Epstein shielded the wounded Haguell with his body under fire and was killed. The story of heroism became identified with the song 'Ballad for a Medic' by Dan Almagor. Haguell named his eldest son Shlomo after his rescuer, and Epstein's father served as godfather at the circumcision. He continued reserve duty for decades, accumulating over 3,000 reserve days, and reported for service even during the Swords of Iron War at age 77. In a published letter, Haguell wrote to Epstein: 'You were also immortalized in a song. I'm sorry you didn't get to hear it.'