2nd-Lt. Aaron Karov, the officer who left his bride to lead his troops into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead is in the headlines again, this time as he received a promotion to 1st-lt, standing from his wheelchair to receive his new rank.

Karov, who sustained critical injuries in the war, was not expected to pull through according to doctors in the trauma unit but he defied the odds and is not in the process of rehabilitating himself.

His presence and promotion made the paratrooper graduation ceremony an especially emotional event, as he hugged every member of his platoon and personally issued them their Gaza combat pin. There were many tears flowing during the emotional ceremony when the young officer received his promotion.

On the one side, Colonel Levy placed the new rank on his shoulder and on the other side, his mother and wife. Karov did stand for quite some time, over an hour, refusing to sit until the ceremony was over, unwilling to receive the rank from the paratroop brigade commander sitting and unwilling to address his soldiers without giving them the proper respect.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)