SAN DIEGO — "It makes you angry. It makes you sad," said Nathan Raymond who served for the Israeli army from 2005 to 2008 as Combat Soldier in the Special Ops Unit.
Now, he lives in Mira Mesa and he is sharing how the war in the Middle East is impacting him.
"Distressing like everybody else and saddened by what's going on over there, but hopeful that this is the last round and take care of the issues going on over there," said Raymond.
It has been 10 days since the attack by Hamas, which killed 1,400 people in Israel and more than 2,700 people in Gaza, one of them was Raymond’s former commander.
"His name was Shachar Tzemach. He was a combat soldier in the Special Ops Unit. He was living on a kibbutz close to the Gaza border. Once things started to go south, they started hearing gunshots and mortar fire and rocket fire, and they knew something was wrong. He was on that quick reaction force to protect that kibbutz and unfortunately, in process of that, he was killed," said Raymond.
Tzemach was 39-years-old and a local security officer from Be'eri. Raymond says he's relied on his Israeli comrades for support.
"I talk with my friends out there in the army and we lean on each other for support. We share memories of the time that we had together with him. I guess that’s how we commemorate him and remember him," he said.
Despite all the turmoil continuing in the Middle East, he is hoping Americans can be united.
"I think that we stay united and strong. Not just Jews, but decent people all over the world," said Raymond.
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