MACHAL, the Hebrew acronym for "mitnadvei hutz laAretz" or "volunteers from abroad," consisted of about 3500 men and women from over 40 countries who volunteered to fight for Israel in the 1948 War of Independence. Most had recently returned from fighting in World War II. Approximately 1500 "Machalniks" came from Canada and the United States and provided service in all aspects of military operations. Prior to the War of Independence, these volunteers served on "illegal" and decrepit ships...