1. Danny Matt was a decorated career Israeli military officer who served in the Israel Defense Forces from 1948 until 1992.
13 Facts About Danny Matt
1. 2.
Danny Matt attained the rank of major general and fought in five Arab-Israeli wars, including the wars of 1948 and 1973.
3.
Danny Matt then attempted to join the British Army's Jewish Brigade but, despite his service with the Coastal Police, was rejected because of his youth.
4.
Danny Matt then pressured his father to sign a false document indicating that he was 18 years old and presented this document to gain acceptance.
5.
Danny Matt saw service in Egypt, Italy and the Netherlands.
6.
Danny Matt stood his ground and sprayed machine gun fire into the attacking forces.
7.
Danny Matt was known for having a very large beard and as a result, he ripped it off with only his hands and walked out of the forest un-recognised by the Jordanians.
8.
Danny Matt enrolled in an officer's training course and was given command of a unit responsible for thwarting Arab infiltrations into southern Israel.
9.
On June 10,1967, on the last day of the war, Danny Matt's paratroops ferried by helicopter secured the southern Golan Heights defeating Syrian forces they encountered.
10.
Danny Matt led his para forces on a daring deep penetration commando raid into the heart of Egypt's Nile valley.
11.
Danny Matt played a critical role in this operation, which ultimately resulted in the encirclement of the 3rd Egyptian army.
12.
Danny Matt died at the age of 85 at Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer, Israel.
13.
Danny Matt was laid to rest in a military funeral at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv, on December 6,2013.