Ammunition Hill Hero and Israel Defense Prize Laureate Yaki Hetz Dies at 80
Yacov (Yaki) Hetz, a Six-Day War hero of Ammunition Hill, Medal of Courage recipient, and defense innovator, passed away at 80. He shaped Israel's military heritage and technology.
Yacov (Yaki) Hetz, a legendary hero of the 1967 Six-Day War's Battle of Ammunition Hill, recipient of the Medal of Courage, and Israel Defense Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 80.
A Legacy of Bravery and Innovation
Born in 1946, Yaki was just 21 years old when he fought in the fierce battle for Jerusalem's reunification. After his platoon commander was wounded, Hetz assumed command under heavy enemy fire, leading his comrades forward. Decades later, his combat experience inspired technological innovation at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, where he conceived the idea for the advanced "Maoz" loitering munition used by IDF soldiers.
"Yaki Hetz was an inseparable part of Ammunition Hill—not only as a hero of the battle for the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem, but as a man who dedicated his life to action, creation, and passing the heritage to future generations," said Menachem Landau, Chairman of the Ammunition Hill Association.
Preserving the Memory of Jerusalem's Liberation
Hetz also fought in the Yom Kippur War, later receiving recognition for rescuing wounded soldiers at the Chinese Farm. In 2017, he lit a torch at the official Independence Day ceremony. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to education, sharing his testimony with youth and publishing his autobiography, "Baptism of Fire," in 2023.
