I just wanted to comment, seeing as I knew the man - Nir Katz.
He served in the same army unit as I did, doing two or three years as a non-commissioned officer and team leader. I didn't know him well. What I knew of him that he was often smiling, always popular and well regarded professionally. His homosexuality was well know, but was not Nir's defining trait. I mean by this that people didn't say "Nir, the gay soldier", they said "Nir, that guy over there who's smiling" or "Nir, leader of team such and such". Actually, IIRC, he was always called "Nirkatz" :)
I was (by chance) at the unit today and the mood was very somber. Many of his friends are still serving and together with others, who left the army long ago, went together to his tragic funeral today.
Eumelia, I would like to take this opportunity, to stand as an ally to your community, to salute and support Nir and yourselves.
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He served in the same army unit as I did, doing two or three years as a non-commissioned officer and team leader. I didn't know him well. What I knew of him that he was often smiling, always popular and well regarded professionally. His homosexuality was well know, but was not Nir's defining trait.
I mean by this that people didn't say "Nir, the gay soldier", they said "Nir, that guy over there who's smiling" or "Nir, leader of team such and such". Actually, IIRC, he was always called "Nirkatz" :)
I was (by chance) at the unit today and the mood was very somber. Many of his friends are still serving and together with others, who left the army long ago, went together to his tragic funeral today.
Eumelia, I would like to take this opportunity, to stand as an ally to your community, to salute and support Nir and yourselves.