Eitan Avni was born to Leah and Yitzchak on July 13, 1962 in San Francisco. The family returned to Israel when Eitan was one year old, and lived in Jerusalem where Eitan attended the 'Gymnasia Haivrit.' On October 22, 1980 he was drafted into the Armored Corps. When the First Lebanon War (Shalom Hagalil) broke out, Eitan returned from vacation and was assigned as an ammunition loader and communications officer in the Deputy Brigade Commander's tank.
On June 7, 1982 Eitan was killed by enemy fire while on an APC entering the city of Zur. He was buried in the Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem and left behind his mother and three sisters.
