In January 1948, a group of 38 Jewish fighters embarked on foot on a dangerous mission : to sneak supplies into the Jewish villages of Gush Etzion. The villages were under siege by surrounding Arabs and Arab military personnel, with a hand from the British Mandate authorities who were abetting the chokehold. Three of the men were forced to turn back early in the mission when one of them was injured. The other 35 proceeded to hike through the dark, often hilly terrain—convoys of supplies were