Dov Mills was laid to rest in October 2004 in Beersheba’s cemetery about mid-way between Kibbutz Hatzerim and the “Old City.” His grave is on the same path he took in his Palmach jeep on 21st October 1948, as a member of the 9th Battalion of the Negev Brigade which liberated Beersheba. The Israeli forces advanced from Kibbutz Tse’elim in the west, passed Kibbutz Hatzerim, and attacked the town from several sides. Eight years after the War of Independence ended, Dov settled in Beersheba where he spent most of his adult life.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on the 6th August 1925 to Jewish immigrants. He studied agriculture in high school and joined the Hashomer Hatsa’ir Movement.
In 1943 Dov joined the U.S. Army, and after basic training was sent to fight in the Far East. A brief leave from the Army towards the end of the war brought Dov to Shanghai, a move that changed his life entirely. There he met Jewish refugees who had survived World War II. For the first time he became aware of the tragedy of his people in Europe. Later he used to say that this had a significant impact on his decision to help establish a home for the Jewish People.
After returning to New York in 1946, he looked for a way to do this. Through Hashomer Hatsa’ir he heard that the Haganah was seeking young Jewish men to volunteer for Aliyah Bet, so he volunteered to serve as a crew member on the ship “Exodus 1947.” Dov served as an oiler during the voyage to Palestine, and spent most of the voyage in the engine room below deck. On the way back to Europe, on board the “Empire Rival,” he served as a middleman between the undercover Haganah people and British officers. He was also on an organizing committee that dealt with the frequent problems of the refugees. Being a pivotal figure, many came to know him, activists and refugees alike. On board the “Empire Rival,” he changed his name from Bernard Miller to Dov Mills. Later, he managed to escape from the detention camp at Poppendorf, Germany, with other “Exodus” crew members, posing as a member of a soccer team. When passing through France, he was the only member of his group to meet the head of Haganah. He finally made aliyah in January 1948.
After about a month, Dov volunteered for the Palmach and joined the Negev Brigade. He participated in battles against the Egyptians in Gaza, the northern Negev, Beersheba and Bir Asluj. Although he did not have a driving license, he served as a jeep driver and operated a machine gun in battle. His jeep commander was Corporal Motta Gur, later commander in chief of the IDF.
Dov was discharged after a year of fighting, at the end of the War of Independence, He first joined the Hashomer Hatsa’ir Kibbutz Sasa, but left after a few months; using his agricultural experience, he found work at the Smuckler Farm in Moshav Rishpon, where he met his wife Shula. They married and settled on Moshav Habonim, where they were amongst the first settlers. Two years later they moved to Moshav Orot, near Be’er Tuviyah. In 1957 Dov and his family moved to Beersheba, where he headed the Meteorological Station.
Source: Extracts from the article in the American Veterans of Israel Newsletter, Winter 2005.
CATEGORY: 1947-49 PERSONAL STORIES
MILLS, Dov (Bernard) – Aliyah Bet. Oiler on “Exodus.” Palmach Negev Brigade. Killed liberating Beersheba
DOV (BERNARD) MILLS
Dov Mills was laid to rest in October 2004 in Beersheba’s cemetery about mid-way between Kibbutz Hatzerim and the “Old City.” His grave is on the same path he took in his Palmach jeep on 21st October 1948, as a member of the 9th Battalion of the Negev Brigade which liberated Beersheba. The Israeli forces advanced from Kibbutz Tse’elim in the west, passed Kibbutz Hatzerim, and attacked the town from several sides. Eight years after the War of Independence ended, Dov settled in Beersheba where he spent most of his adult life.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on the 6th August 1925 to Jewish immigrants. He studied agriculture in high school and joined the Hashomer Hatsa’ir Movement.
In 1943 Dov joined the U.S. Army, and after basic training was sent to fight in the Far East. A brief leave from the Army towards the end of the war brought Dov to Shanghai, a move that changed his life entirely. There he met Jewish refugees who had survived World War II. For the first time he became aware of the tragedy of his people in Europe. Later he used to say that this had a significant impact on his decision to help establish a home for the Jewish People.
After returning to New York in 1946, he looked for a way to do this. Through Hashomer Hatsa’ir he heard that the Haganah was seeking young Jewish men to volunteer for Aliyah Bet, so he volunteered to serve as a crew member on the ship “Exodus 1947.” Dov served as an oiler during the voyage to Palestine, and spent most of the voyage in the engine room below deck. On the way back to Europe, on board the “Empire Rival,” he served as a middleman between the undercover Haganah people and British officers. He was also on an organizing committee that dealt with the frequent problems of the refugees. Being a pivotal figure, many came to know him, activists and refugees alike. On board the “Empire Rival,” he changed his name from Bernard Miller to Dov Mills. Later, he managed to escape from the detention camp at Poppendorf, Germany, with other “Exodus” crew members, posing as a member of a soccer team. When passing through France, he was the only member of his group to meet the head of Haganah. He finally made aliyah in January 1948.
After about a month, Dov volunteered for the Palmach and joined the Negev Brigade. He participated in battles against the Egyptians in Gaza, the northern Negev, Beersheba and Bir Asluj. Although he did not have a driving license, he served as a jeep driver and operated a machine gun in battle. His jeep commander was Corporal Motta Gur, later commander in chief of the IDF.
Dov was discharged after a year of fighting, at the end of the War of Independence, He first joined the Hashomer Hatsa’ir Kibbutz Sasa, but left after a few months; using his agricultural experience, he found work at the Smuckler Farm in Moshav Rishpon, where he met his wife Shula. They married and settled on Moshav Habonim, where they were amongst the first settlers. Two years later they moved to Moshav Orot, near Be’er Tuviyah. In 1957 Dov and his family moved to Beersheba, where he headed the Meteorological Station.
Source: Extracts from the article in the American Veterans of Israel Newsletter, Winter 2005.
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