The son of Yacov and Rhoda, Maurice Oulrich was born in Valence in France on 16th June 1929; his parents had immigrated to France from Poland. He began school at an early age and finished at the age of 12 when compelled to do so, in spite of the fact that he loved learning: his father had been arrested by the Nazis and his mother was unable to raise the money needed for his studies. He excelled in sport and was an experienced boxer.
During the German occupation of France in World War II, he managed to evade the Nazis. On the liberation of France, at the end of the war, he traveled to Krakow in Poland to join his grandfather, who had somehow managed to survive. In Poland Maurice joined a group to prepare himself for Aliyah.
In 1948 he arrived in Israel and was mobilized into the Givati Brigade. His officers recalled that he was a devoted and loyal soldier, and a positive influence on his comrades. He served as the machine gunner of his platoon and he guarded the weapon with great pride, and was always happy and enthusiastic when he went into battle. He saw action serving in Hata, Negba, Abdis and Julis.
He fell on 19th October 1948 during Operation Yoav in the attack on Egyptian positions at Huleiqat. He fired his last bursts as his unit charged the enemy. He was hit by fire from an anti-tank rifle which penetrated his steel helmet.
He was laid to rest the next day at the Kfar Warburg cemetery.
Source: Translated from the Yizkor website by Joe Woolf