Rafael Eitan was born in Tel Adashim in the Jezreel Valley in 1929. He served as the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff from 1978 through 1983, following 37 years of military service in the pre-state Palmah strike force and in the IDF. Eitan commanded the 890th Paratroop Battalion, the Paratroop Brigade and the Beka'a Brigade. He was involved in the IDF's sole combat parachute jump into the Mitla Pass during the 1956 Sinai campaign. Eitan, who was wounded in the 1948 War of Independence and on three other occasions, served the IDF as a paratrooper, armored corpsman and pilot....