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Zvi GreengoldIsraeli officer
Date of Birth: 10.02.1952
Country:  Israel |
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Israeli Officer
Tzvi Grinfogel is an Israeli officer who was awarded the Medal of Valor, Israel's highest military decoration. A retired colonel in the Israeli armored corps, he is known as the commander of "Force Zvika."
Early Life
Born and raised in the Galilean kibbutz of Lohamei HaGetaot, Grinfogel was mobilized in 1973 as a lieutenant in the armored corps and a cadet in the company commanders' school.
Yom Kippur War
At the start of the Yom Kippur War, Lieutenant Grinfogel was ordered to gather crews from surviving tankists and lead two hastily repaired tanks against advancing enemy tanks.
Night of Heroism
On October 6, 1973, Grinfogel's group encountered a group of Syrian tanks, destroying one but sustaining damage to his own. After sending the damaged tank back, he continued the fight, destroying three more Syrian tanks.
Later, he discovered approximately 30 Syrian tanks and engaged them at close range to compensate for the lack of night vision devices. After destroying several, the enemy retreated, believing they were facing a larger force.
Daylight Fighting
Despite heavy losses, Grinfogel joined forces with 16 tanks led by Lieutenant Colonel David Israeli, who destroyed numerous Syrian tanks. Grinfogel himself destroyed 12.
As the battle progressed, Grinfogel's tank ran out of ammunition. Returning to the rear to resupply, he joined a counterattack against Syrian forces that had penetrated the Israeli lines. During the counterattack, his tank commander was killed, and his driver suffered a mental breakdown.
Major Moshe Tzurih, who had assumed command, ordered Grinfogel to withdraw to the rear. Despite his injuries, Grinfogel refused to leave the front lines, returning to his brigade until the end of hostilities.
Legacy
Grinfogel's heroic actions during the Yom Kippur War are widely recognized as one of the most remarkable chapters in Israeli military history. Estimates of the number of enemy tanks he destroyed range from 20 to 60.
Post-Military Life
After the war, Grinfogel served for an additional year in the regular army and remained in reserve, eventually rising to the rank of colonel. Currently, he lives in the Galilee and is the founder of Tivall and the managing director of Frutarom, a chemical company. In 2008, he was appointed acting mayor of Ofakim, a position he held until 2013.
