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ANATOLIAN LIONS : TURKISH BRIGADE OF THE KOREAN WAR

ergun kirlikovali

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Aylin D. Miller

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The heroic but unpublicized role of the Turkish troops during the 1950-53 Korean War is not fully acknowledged by most Western historians and public, although the Turkish Brigade named “Anatolian Lions” (composed of the 241st Infantry Regiment with three infantry battalions, a motorized artillery battalion with three artillery batteries) were awarded the highest honorable citation of the U.S. Army for saving the U.S. Eighth Army and the IX Army Corps from encirclement and the U.S. 2nd Division from total annihilation. In this legendary effort, the Turks lost 717 men and suffered 2,413 wounded representing the highest combat casualty rate of any U.N. unit engaged in Korea. Turkey was the first country after the United States to send forces to Korea on November 7, 1950 and contributed to the U.N. military efforts in Korea between 1950 and 1966. There were 5,450 Turkish troops, the third-largest contingent after the U.S. with 348,000 and Britain with 14,198.
I thought this news piece was worth sharing with you in remembrance of the Turkish Brigade for its courageous battles in the “Forgotten War”.
(To read more about the Turkish Brigade:
This entry was posted on Friday, June 24th, 2005 at 10:49 am and is filed under Index, Military.
Source :

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Here is how JOHN M. VANDER LIPPE put it in his “Forgotten Brigade of the Forgotten War: Turkey’s Participation in the Korean War.” (Middle Eastern Studies, January 1, 2000 )

THE TURKS IN THE KOREAN WAR
The advance party of the Turkish Brigade or Turkish Armed Forces command arrived in Pusan on 12 October 1950. The main body numbering 5190 troops arrived five days later, on 17 October. Brigadier General Tahzin Yazici commanded the brigade. Colonel Celal Dora was assistant Brigade Commander. When the main body arrived the brigade went into bivouac near Taegu where it underwent training and received U.S. equipment. The brigade was attached to the U.S. 25th infantry division so after limited training the brigade moved north to the Kaesong area to join the division.
The Turkish Brigade has been the subject of the world’s praise, by showing a very superior combat capability which provided our state with honor through the successes it won one after another during the three year period of blood and fire starting from the hardest and most critical moment it entered the battlefield until the signing of the “Ceasefire” agreement.
Turkey was one of the larger participants in the U.N. alliance, committing nearly 5,500 troops. The Turkish Brigade, which operated under the U.S. 25th Infantry Division, assisted in protecting the supply lines of U.N. forces which advanced towards North Korea. However, it was the Battles of Kunu-ri and Kumyanjangni that earned the Turkish Brigade a reputation and the praise of U.N. forces. Because of their heroic actions and sacrifice in these battles, a monument was created in Seoul in the memory of the Turkish soldiers who fought in Korea.
BILL ALLI, A TURKISH-AMERICAN WHO SERVED AT THE KOREAN WAR
Bill Alli, a Turkish-American who served at the Korean War and who is a member of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Coordinating Committee in Washington, DC said:
Korean Veterans Memorial is the only Memorial in the National Mall with Turkey’s name on it. It symbolizes the American-Turkish friendship and the sacrifices that both Nations did to protect a democratic nation that needed help. Therefore it is very special for us and we cannot emphasize it enough.
Heart-wrenching words from an old soldier, especially made poignant when one thinks how that great friend and ally of the United States, Turkey, after all its sacrifices, is mistreated by some viciously anti-Turkish lobbies and hate groups in Glendale and Boston and their proxies in the U.S. Congress. Think about it: when Turkish boys were fighting shoulder to shoulder with Americans and dying in Korea and elsewhere, Armenia was on the Soviet camp, its soldiers shooting bullets and lobbing bombs at Turkish and American boys. Those Armenians are now the darling of some politicians with little or no memory or scruples. Go figure!


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10 responses to “ANATOLIAN LIONS : TURKISH BRIGADE OF THE KOREAN WAR”

  1. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    So very well said…especially the last paragraph!!!! A well done piece indeed. Great job.

  2. jda Avatar
    jda

    “Think about it: when Turkish boys were fighting shoulder to shoulder with Americans and dying in Korea and elsewhere, Armenia was on the Soviet camp, its soldiers shooting bullets and lobbing bombs at Turkish and American boys. Those Armenians are now the darling of some politicians with little or no memory or scruples. Go figure!”

    Shameful of you to seek to capitalize upon the justly celebrated 60 year old exploits of the Turkish brigade to pretend that Turkey is an ally of the United States.

    It will come as quite a shock to the North Korean and later, Red Chinese commanders, not to mention Soviets, that the forces fighting the UN in Korea were actually Soviet Armenian. While it is true that there are rumors of Russian fighter pilots who trained and even flew combat missions for the North Koreans along MiG Alley, none were ever confirmed to be other than Russian and White Russian. [Although it is true that the MiG fighter was designed at Artom Mikoyan’s design works, hence the name Mig[oyan].]

    Mr. Kirlikovali, we know you have no shame about lying and publishing whoppers, but you apparently lack respect for the readers of this site, who number in the dozens.

    Robert, you are a fine product of a first rate Turkish education, or a last rate American one.

    If we want to pretend that the Korean conflict pitted Soviet forces against the United Nations, then we would also have to posit Turkic soldiers fighting UN forces, since the Soviet forces did contain sizeable numbers of Azeris, Chechens, Kazakhs, Tadjiks, Tartars, et al.

    Our next planet size whopper is the assertion that Turkish military forces otherwise fought alongside US forces. Let’s see…..Vietnam? no. Grenada? no. Panama? no. Persian Gulf? no. Iraqi Freedom? No, and the great ally would not allow US assets to use Turkey to stage forces for the northern invasion route. Tiny, poor Armenia did send combat soldiers to stand with the US there.

    We all know that Turkey, our great ally, refused to participate not because she saw the errors in the Iraq operation, or because her people declined. Her Islamic masters wanted to control Kurdistan, and when Bush said no, they declined.

    Both Turkey and Armenia have sent combat troops to Afghanistan, at a rate of approximately 23 per million of population. Big whoop.

    Finally, Armenia was no more a willing part of the Soviet system than your Azeri cousins were. They,
    too, are generally AWOL from acting like allies.

    What a shame to falsify history.

  3. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    JDA (a.k.a. Chuckles the Clown),

    Where to begin? Let’s work backwards this time, shall we. You say…”Armenia was no more a willing part of the Soviet system than your Azeri cousins were”. First of all, in late 1919, Armenia conned the US Congress into loaning them $50 million, which they did, with a fixed interest rate to be repayed annually. The following year, 1920, when the first of the repayments came due, Armenia, rather than pay (since most of the money had already been squandered by their corrupt government), they willingly joined with the Soviet Union so as not have any further obligations. Then, shamelessly (as is the usual trademark of Armenians), their paid agents throughout Europe and the US lobbied Congress later that year for even more money! Sens. Reed of MO, Smith of GA, Williams of MS, Brandegee of CT, just to name a few, took turns to speak on the Senate floor to prevent and futher monetary aid to Armenia, since as Sen., Reed put it…”the Armenians have shown their true self and certainly can not be trusted! I therefore vote no to any further appropriations”! President Wilson agreed and both he and the congress refused to give any further monies to Armenia. Even though there was initial resistance by Armenia to be part of the Soviet block, they discovered that by willing doing so, they can save their own skins and save a lot of money by never repaying back that loan (to this very day).

    There were indeed Turks fighting in Vietnam as US troops! I have several Turkish friends and relatives who were in country and did at least three tours (all in Special Forces…G.B’s, SEALS). Of course, there may also have been some Armenian-Americans in that war as well. I simply do noy know.

    You mention Iraq. Bush Senior had promised Turkey a repayment of the $12 billion she lost due to shutting down her oil and gasoline suppiels to and from Saddam H. And yes, there were Turkish troops in that war as well, with the vast majority with the Pan-Arab Forces, training them mostly. When Bush Sr. reneged on compensating the Turks, this was one of the two reasons Turkey had for preventing the US troops from entering from the North. The second reason was that they wanted to contol the growing Kurdish problem from getting out of hand. In other words chuckles, Turkey was getting tired of bending over backwards to help a friend and ally, only to be reamed by said ally (the US)! As for the “Armenian troops” sent to Iraq, this is true. It was also a joke! The total amount were 20-25 soldiers whose jobs were as “truck mechanics and drivers for convoy escorts”! They then sent another 20 troops to engage the insurgents, but of course, nothing happened with them and they saw no action.

    You mentionn Afghanistan. As usual, your ignorance of the topic is remarkable. Soon after 9/11, Three commando units were selected to go into Afghanistan and establish bases. These were British, Turkish and American units of over 200 soldiers (commandos) each, who went in weeks prior to the rest of the regular soldiers. The Thukish units commanded the entire NATO forces on 2-3 different occaission. Armenia finally sent a token force much later on in the war! Interestingly, the Turkish troops were assigned to train the newly arrived Armenian troops! There is quite a bit more than a mere “token” force of Turkish troops in country!

    Turkey has indeed stood shoulder to shoulder as friend and ally to the US and the West, from Korea, all throughout the Cold War, to the present war on Terrorism! Armenia was was against the US and the West. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenians main import still remains foriegn aid handouts (it receives the largest amount per capita of its population in the enitire world) while its main export is terrorism! The Korean War was a test of will and proving ones mettle! Armenians would never have survived there! Though it’s true that there propably wasn’t any Armenians or Russians actively fighting the Turkish brigade (it was Chinese Comunists and North Koreans), there were indeed Russian, and possibly Armenian, MIG pilots who dogfighted the US Sabres in Mig Alley. The Turks and South Koreans are like brothers! The fighting spirit of the Turks during that war is legendary, just as it has been all throughout history for the past 1,000 years!!!

    So, I’m the product of a last rate American education, eh! Well, I’ve been kicking your ass from one site to another, exposing you as a fraud, liar, etc. Proving in the process that you have zero credibility! Not bad for some one with a last rate education, huh! But, since you’re a masochist, you’re probably getting off on you constantly being humiliated.

    Now, don’t forget your clown suit as you waddle off to the next site!

  4. jda Avatar
    jda

    Little lost Bobby,

    I like your use of the odd term “in country” in the following sentence:

    “I have several Turkish friends and relatives who were in country and did at least three tours (all in Special Forces…G.B’s, SEALS).”

    Very manly and impressive to use the authentic he-man 1960’s expression to let us all know just how military you really, truly are. [Of course, you weren’t quite military enough actually to volunteer for service after, perhaps, the east New Brunswick school traffic squad.]

    Amazing, Bobbie that your friends and relatives all just happened all to be commandos, special forces, SEaLs etc. Are these special forces friends the ones you store in mom’s attic, still with the original Hasbro GI Joe packaging?

    I have no doubt that Turkish Americans served honorably in the United States forces, just as members of every other ethnicity have. That makes them Americans. It has nothing to do with the point of this thread, which is what, exactly has Turkey, not its emigres, done to support the United States during military actions since Korea.

    Your strained and dubious defense of Turkey’s failure to assist the United States by allowing the use of Incirlic and its airspace shows only that you are a Turk first, an American second or third. You are not an American by your own words.

    Finally, it is galling that a fat middle aged man who has never served his country and never worn a uniform should deride the military service given by Armenians or anyone else in Iraq or Afghanistan. Whether they were support troops or not, they have given service you never have, at great peril. They have puttheir lives on the line. Plenty of support troops have died in both theatres. We know you and your role model, the equally cowardly Kirlikovali have never risked anything more than carpal tunnel syndrome from your keyboard exertions. And by the way, both Turkey and Armenia contribute troops to the Afghan war at the same rate, about 23 per million.

    Only a feather merchant like you has the gall to deride the honorable service of others, service which you never gave. Too busy eating, no doubt.

  5. Cemal Avatar
    Cemal

    Dear Robert,

    Thank you for your valuable input setting the record straight. I wonder though if it is worth your precious time to respond to a fanatic Armenian propagandists like JDA. He is a prominent member of the AFATH (Armenian Falsifiers and Turks Haters) community. AFATH people create a myth first. Then they try to intellectualize it into a perfect fallacy. All they succeed in the process is to create babboons like jda who has never heard of Armenian revolts, terrorism, treason, territorial demands, Turkish victims, and tereset. Their perceptions and expectations are delusional.

    Just look at this lunatic: He wants to put distance between the Armenians and the Soviet Union duirng Korean War when Armenian soldiers shot bullets and lobbed bombs at Americans and Turks and others (repression.) But he cannot wander away too much before he claims credit for MIG figthers(reggression.)

    He sees the absence of Turkey by the U.S. during Vietnam War as not becoming an ally while totally ignoring that a great majority of the American citizens were also against that war (Prejudice and double standards.)

    He see all Turks in a dim light (racist) but quickly glorifies one of them if he agrees with him llike the paid Armenian agent Taner Akcam (delusional.)

    He doesn’t understand why people like me and you disagree with him: the six T’s of the Turmisj-Armenian conflict.

    He doesn’t understand ethocide.

    He knows nothing about the Tereset (temporary resettlement of 1915).

    All he knows is to attack at any cost with what he can write (fallacies) to all Turkish and American targets. I used to think he may be paid by the Armenian lobby. But now, after seeing his stupid drivel, I changed my mind. Even the Armenian lobby cannot be this stupid to send a moron to do a babboon’s job.

  6. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    JDA,

    It seems that you’re truly on the verge of mental collapse. You’re becoming delusional, in addition to your usual accusatory self. When Turkey’s been stabbed in the back as many times as she has by her “friends and allies” since the Korean War, as they’d rather defend lying Greeks, Greek-Cypriots, Serbians, and of course our favorite con jobbers of the 20th century…Let’s give it up for…THE ARMENIANS!!!!!

    You have a fixation on Mr. E.K. I’ve never met the gentleman, but I can assure that he’s straight! So, you’re way off base there laddie! You’re descriptions of both of us is starting to get pretty strange, to say the least!

    As for your diatribal ranting, I speak the truth (check the facts yourself). There were only a few Armenian soldiers who were in Iraq, and their role was simply as mechanics and truck drivers for convoys!!! As ANY soldier coming back from there, or ask the Armenian government themselves! As for Afghanistan, yes, the Armenian troop contingent (small as it may be) were first trained by Turkish troops and then when deemed ready, sent in with other units! Turkish troops have at least twice commanded the UN/NATO forces in Afghanistan. They also are in the UN Security Council. So far, what can you tell us about Armenian contributions on the war on terrorism? Armenia felt obligated to do something to save face in the eyes of the world (can’t keep bitching about a non-exisitant “genocide” forever), so they sent in some troops….Whoopie! Where were they all the other times in both areas of conflict? Where were they when Turkey, America and Britain sent in commando units into Afghanistan one week after 9/11?

    As for my friends and relatives, if you can pull that small bike out of your arse long enough, everyone of them was indeed Special Forces in ‘Nam!! Unlike your “Hasbro & Ken dolls” in your mother’s attic, and since you have zero credibility, after reading what you wrote, my people are real and would gladly kick your ass in a heartbeat! Assuming you were even born then, while they were on mission, at best you were pulling your pud (just like you’re probably doing right now, with your inflateable doll). As for me Chuckles, I still wear my uniform and have done so for the past decade (anything else is on a need to know basis…and you sure as hell don’t need to know squat, since you were never in the military or ever wore a uniform other than that dumbass clown suit!). I put down no country (unlike you). I even support Armenia’s President Sarkisian’s efforts with the protocol agreements and the establishment of a historical commission and the removal of Armenian troops from the illegally occuppied NK region. I’m just sorry that he’s being pressured by all of those terrorists known as the ARF to scuttle the agreements!!! He’s letting them push him around. He needs to grow a pair and tell the ARF where they can shove it!

    As for you Chuckles, don’t you have a kiddie party to work?! LOL

  7. jda Avatar
    jda

    Robert,

    I hunted on the internet for some information about the forces Armenia sent to Iraq. You remember Iraq – its the country the United States invaded without help from your pride and joy, the Great Turkey. Anyway, 25 per cent of the Armenian forces were engaged in bomb disposal, and one was seriously injured, losing a leg. Armenia has sent more such personnel, combat engineers and bomb disposal specialists to Afghanistan.

    You owe this man, and these forces an apology for deriding their service.

    By the way, the majority of military personnel in all theatres since World War I all serve in support functions. That does not make their service safe or easy.

  8. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    JDA,

    I’m sorry that the soldier was hurt, but that’s war. Where were all the sympathies for all the Turkish soldiers who died fighting with the US and Allies? All soldiers face risk on the field of battle (but then again, how would you know that?). As for Armenia in Afghanistan, okay…so they sent some bomb disposal people (sure beats those mechanics and truck drivers they sent to Iraq). Did you happen to ALSO read who trained them? Turkish soldiers had to litereally teach them the basics (how do I know this? My cousin is a Turkish commando and spent a couple of days with the Turkish regular soldiers who got stuck training the Armenian contingent. He said these guys [Armenians] should go back to boot!).

    As for you, since you have no credibility, as has been demonstrated ad naseum, who really cares or pays attention to what you say, since it’s most likely going to be bogus anyway! All you do is insult and defame others. You owe a lot of people, living and dead, apologies! Besides, why do you even bother to come here anyway? You get you ass kicked every single time! There is one thing that I’d like for you to take with you, and that is to compare this site with all of those Armo sites. Note how all of your posts are posted and remain so. Contrast that with Azberaz or the Armenian Weekly to see a major difference. On those sites, any oppossing view is censored and the deleted (I’ve had over 60% of my posts deleted because the editorial board has a yellow streak running down their backs and are terrified that there may be a chance of the truth coming out and causing all the brainwashed dashnaks to start asking questions that they and the Armenian diaspora don’t want asked or answered)!

    Wait, I hear a kallioppie. Isn’t that your cue to do your clown act with your clown uniform?

  9. jda Avatar
    jda

    Robert,

    Please identify a specific unfair or false remark I have actually made. Can you?

    kaliope, a nice Greek word.

    Do you have any friends and family members who are not rugged, deadly commando’s?

    what exactly is the uniform you wear? Tidee Cat delivery person, perhaps? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. You never know when Mr. Fluffy will go all Rambo on your ass, causing you to use your special Turkish martial art, deny-o, the ancient Hunnic art of runaway and scream

  10. Blackjack oyna Avatar
    Blackjack oyna

    You’ve made some decent points there. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

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