An emotional and difficult change-of-command ceremony was held Wednesday at Camp Amiad, as Lt. Col. G. officially took over as commander of the 52nd "Habok'im" Armored Battalion of the 401st Brigade. He succeeds Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simchon, who fell two weeks ago in combat in southern Lebanon.
The ceremony was led by the IDF's Chief Armored Corps Officer, Brig. Gen. Ehud Maor, along with the commanders of the 162nd and 36th Divisions, Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan and Brig. Gen. Yiftach Norkin, the commander of the 401st Brigade, Col. Yoav Schneider, and the commander of the Givati Brigade, Col. Netanel Shamcha.
Lt. Col. G. received command from Lt. Col. N., deputy commander of the 401st Brigade, who had been serving as acting battalion commander over the past two weeks following Ben Simhon's death. Ben Simhon, of blessed memory, was killed in battle in southern Lebanon on June 19, along with three of his soldiers: Staff Sgt. Maj. Liav Kabakia, Staff Sgt. Maj. Naveh Chavashush, and Staff Sgt. Maj. Yoav Klein, may their memories be a blessing.
Brigade commander Col. Yoav Schneider praised the battalion's record throughout the long months of fighting, saying the 52nd circled the entire Gaza Strip during the war. He said that whatever mission the battalion was called on to carry out, easy or difficult, its soldiers answered "Hineni," here I am, and that the battalion's strength carries the Israeli spirit and stands as an inspiration and model for the entire IDF and the State of Israel. He described the unit's resilience, steadfastness, and commitment to its mission as continuing "until victory."
Schneider turned to the battalion's soldiers and made clear the security challenges are far from over, telling them the road has not ended, that many missions still lie ahead, and that the battalion will again be called on to answer "Hineni." He told them the 52nd has risen to the task and succeeded, calling them an inspiration to everyone.
In heartfelt remarks, the incoming commander, Lt. Col. G., addressed his fallen predecessor directly, also recalling the wounding of the commander who preceded Ben Sichon. He said Ben Simhon had stepped into the role mid-battle after Lt. Col. A. was wounded, quickly took charge, and led the battalion through its most challenging fighting. Lt. Col. G. said he had never planned to be standing there that day, and certainly never expected to be the one replacing him, promising that he would continue to lead the battalion forward.
