Roi Klein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roi Klein (Hebrew: רועי קליין) (pronounced Ro-ee Klein) (July 10 1975–July 26 2006) born in Raanana, Israel was a Major in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil during the 2006 Lebanon War after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers.

Klein began his IDF service in the Egoz Reconnaissance Unit.

In 2002, Klein received a Chief Of Staff Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus in which 5 Palestinian militants were killed.

During the Battle of Bint Jbeil, a hand grenade was thrown into the house where Klein and his unit were present. Klein told his men "Report that I've been killed" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. Klein was killed on the spot but his soldiers were saved by his act of self-sacrifice. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael, as he jumped on the grenade.

Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya and Raanana have been named after him. ^[1]

For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Courage posthumously. ^[2]