Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Yosef Sarig was a member of the children’s sector of the kibbutz settlements.
At age 17 years, he graduated high school and went to Tel Aviv אביב-יפו for his thirteenth year of studies.
He edited the quarterly kibbutz member journal, Yachdav יחדיו.

Yosef Sarig graduated, with honors, from the course for Tank Squadron Commanders.

In 1965, Yosef Sarig completed his army duty, and returned to kibbutz Beit haShita קיבוץ השיטה.

After the Six Day War מלחמת ששת הימים, Yosef Sarig was awarded the rank of Captain.

During the battle for the Golan רמת הגולן‎, in October, 1973, the Tank Battalions of Moshe Harel and Yosef Sarig were attached to Colonel Uri Orr's command, who, as commander of the 679th Reserve Armored Brigade חטיבה 679, directly controlled over 20 Centurion tanks and a Jeep reconnassance company.

Major Yosef Sarig served as Commander of a tank unit that drove away the Syrian forces from the area of Hussniyya حسينية, the Golan Heights רמת הגולן.
On October 8, 1973, he led his unit, at Kuneitra القنيطرة‎, against a Syrian ambush.
His tanks damaged, he succeeded in fending off the Syrian advance, despite heavy artillery fire from Tel Saki תל סאקי, on the main road leading to Lake Kinneret ים כנרת‎, small group of Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Brigade חטיבת הנח"ל, and the Brigade 7 חטיבה and Brigade 188 חחטיבה, fought against a whole Syrian division, in a series of battles, known as The Battles of Restraint, in a strategic crossroads point. and despite his regiments position, his tanks managed to destroy many of the missile launchers.
On October 10, 1973, his regiment managed to hold on to their position, against dozens of enemy tanks.

On October 10th 1973, Major Yosef Sarig led his regiment to conquer the post held by dozens of Syrian tanks and succeeded in his mission.
He was killed at the foot of the post from a Syrian ambush on Wednesday afternoon, in the last hour of driving away the Syrians.
Yosef Sarig was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major, and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of Honor for his bravery in combat.
The certificate of Honor reads:
"This is in testimony that major Sarig Yosef showed courage which is worthy as an example & a model. Here is the description of the action: When the battle broke out Major Sarig z”l was a commander of a squadron of tanks that fought in the Golan Heights. On October 8th 1973 while leading his force towards Kuneitra, he came up against a Syrian ambush. Even though some of our officers & tanks were hurt, major Sarig succeeded in a composed fashion in driving the enemy away. Later his company ran into some missile shooting from the direction of Tel-Ski. Major Sarig directed his tanks to lower posts and succeeded in destroying some of the missile carriers. On October 10th 1973 he led his regiment to conquer the post which was held by dozens of enemy tanks and succeeded in his mission. He was killed at the foot of the post from a Syrian ambush on Wednesday afternoon, in the last hour of driving away the Syrians. In all of his actions he showed courage, leadership qualities, wonderful persistence and devotion”.