Dotan Isaac Cohen was born February 9, 1975 on Kibbutz Givat Haim Ichud to Bill and Naomi. His attended elementary school on the kibbutz and the regional high school school at the nearby Kibbutz Maagan Michal, even though the family moved to Hadera when he was in 8th grade.
Dotan was drafted into the army in November 1994 and served in the Infantry in Sayeret 'Orev.' He completed Officer's Training Course and returned to his unit. On February 4, 1997, two helicopters loaded with men on the way to operations in Lebanon crashed over Moshav Shaar Yishuv and 73 soldiers were killed, including Dotan and his men.