David Menachem Gordon. Photo: Facebook.

JNS.org – The Columbus, Ohio, Jewish community is mourning the loss of one of its lone soldiers as the Israel Defense Forces continues to investigate the death of Cpl. David Menachem Gordon, whose body was found Aug. 19 in central Israel with gunshot wounds.

Gordon, 21, had been missing since about noon Aug. 17, when he was last seen at a military base in central Israel. His army-issued assault rifle was by his side, according to the IDF.

Lane Schlessel, director of the Ohio chapter of Friends of the IDF, said he did not have any information about the cause of Gordon’s death.

“I’m extremely sorry for the loss of the family’s loved one,” Schlessel said. “My support and thoughts and prayers are with them always. As a lone soldier (with no immediate family in Israel), his service was greatly appreciated.”

Bob Lane, vice president of Jewish community relations for the Jewish Federation of Columbus, said that Gordon’s family has lived in Columbus for less than one year. Lane said he did not know the family personally, and he was not sure where Gordon was from originally.

“This certainly is a tragedy, and the Columbus Jewish community mourns with his family,” said Lane. “David and his family are in our thoughts and prayers as we move through this very difficult and tragic time.”

Gordon, who entered the Israeli army in August 2013, was a member of the Givati Brigade. According to his Facebook page, he completed basic training in January and served in the 424th Shaked Infantry Battalion. He will be buried with full military honors at Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery in Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Post.