IDF all-female tank crew heroes

On October 7, 2023, Tal-Sara was one of seven female Israeli tank crew members from the Caracal brigade who fought against Hamas terrorists continuously for an unbelievable 18 hours! These young women were the first ever all-female tank crew to engage in active combat in history. They killed an estimated 50 terrorists, saved a kibbutz, and successfully blocked a massive hole in the border fence.

Since her discharge from the regular army, she has been on reserves in my combat medical extraction unit (Palmar) on the Gaza front. I interviewed her this week on the first anniversary of October 7. Despite her fame, both national and international, Tal-Sarah, being justifiably proud of her role, was extremely modest and soft-spoken. She had fire in her eyes and a strong spirit. Tal-Sarah told me:

I never expected to be a hero and to fight overwhelming amounts of terrorists. Only after the event when I thought of it, did I realise how we made history. We received hundreds of supportive messages from people we saved, and indeed form all over the world. We have been interviewed my mainstream media from many international outlets. I don’t believe we did anything extraordinary; we just did our duty to defend the State of Israel and her citizens.

She recounted how in the midst the battle she phoned home, during a brief lull in the fighting, to tell her family how much she loved them. She saw death before her eyes and was sure that this was her end. Instead, her crew emerged triumphant and are an inspiration to us all.  Next month her dream is being fulfilled, as she will be joining a newly established all-female reserve tank crew unit in Gaza.