Military Service
In 1979, Oren joined the Israel Defense Forces. He served as a paratrooper in the 1982 Lebanon War. His unit was caught in a Syrian ambush on the second day of the war. His commander was killed and nearly everyone was wounded. He then joined a unit stationed in Sidon. A day after his wedding, in the summer of 1982, Oren returned to Beirut. During the 1991 Gulf War he was Israeli liaison officer to the United States Sixth Fleet. He was called up for reserve duty for the 2005 Gaza disengagement, and participated in the evacuation of settlements. He served as an officer in the IDF Spokesman's Office during the 2006 Lebanon War. and the 2008-2009 Gaza War.
In February, 2009, he delivered a lecture at Georgetown University on “The Gaza Operation: A Personal and Historical Perspective.” The Today Show broadcast a special segment, “The Oren Family at War.”.
Following his regular military service, Oren volunteered to work with the Zionist underground in the Soviet Union. Sent to make contact with Zionist groups in the Ukraine, he was repeatedly arrested by the KGB.
Read more about this topic: Michael Oren
Famous quotes containing the words military and/or service:
“My faith is the grand drama of my life. I’m a believer, so I sing words of God to those who have no faith. I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colours for those who see none.”
—Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)
“The gods’ service is tolerable, man’s intolerable.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)