The following scene is engraved in the minds of many Israelis: Last summer, a few days after the conclusion of the Protective Edge campaign, Paratrooper Brigade Cmdr. Col. Eliezer Toledano paid a visit to the neurosurgery ward of Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva. There, surrounding the bed of an unconscious young officer, huddled his large family as they waited for the brigade commander. These were the parents, wife, siblings and children of 29-year-old Maj. Hagai Ben-Ari, who had been critically wounded in a campaign battle and in a coma since.

A short time before the conflict had erupted in Gaza, Ben-Ari was called to Toledano’s office. At the end of his interview, the outstanding paratrooper was given good news: He would soon be appointed commander of the elite and celebrated Paratroopers Unit. Reconnaissance commander is a prestigious, highly coveted position once held by former Chiefs of Staff Moshe "Bogie" Ya’alon, Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Levi as well as by Deputy Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai and others. Ben-Ari then went on a short vacation to Eilat with his family, and was supposed to receive official command of the Reconnaissance Unit upon his return.

But the war in Gaza broke out during his vacation. Ben-Ari and his reconnaissance soldiers engaged in harsh battles in Khan Yunis, where Ben-Ari was critically wounded by sniper fire to the head, putting him into a coma. Ben-Ari, who had not yet been officially promoted, lay unconscious in the hospital. For almost three weeks, he fought for life until the night of Sept. 20, 2014, when doctors informed the family that his condition was deteriorating quickly and his minutes were numbered.

Close to 2 a.m., Toledano arrived. He entered the hospital room in which most of Ben-Ari’s family members were concentrated. Next to the officer’s wife, Moriya, Toledano gently held one of his hands. The brigade commander spoke to his officer, though he knew that Ben-Ari could not hear him. He praised Ben-Ari for his combat skills, his leadership and professionalism as an officer and commander. Then he added, “I ask your permission to complete [the appointment process] and add your name to the list of paratrooper reconnaissance commanders.” Thus, Ben-Ari was promoted and, for a short time, the Israeli Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit had two commanders: both Ben-Ari's replacement and Ben-Ari as he lay in bed.