CODE NAME NORTH STAR“ŞİMAL YILDIZI”

celilbektaş

Let’s think!

KOREAN WAR - BACKGROUND

On June 1950, North Korea initiated an attack to South Korea.

Then the United Nations requested a military aid to South Korea.

On 29 June 1950, the government of the Republic of Turkey replied to the United Nations Resolution.

Turkey was the second country to answer the UN call, after the United States.

KOREAN WAR – REASON, AİM TO JOİNİNG

After WW II, Russia was threatening Turkey. Turkey had to choose her side. So, Turkey decided to join the NATO. Thus, Turkey had to participate the Korean War.

THE TURKİSH BRİGADE

Code name North Star, Turkish: Şimal Yıldızı or Kutup Yıldızı

Three different Turkish Brigades served in the Korean War, each replacing the previous one, each year. (1950-1953)

Brigadier General Tahsin Yazıcı, a veteran of World War I, who had volunteered to lead this force.

THE TURKİSH BRİGADE COMPRİSED OF

3 Infantry Battalions Motorized Field Artillery Battalion Motorized Engineering Unit Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery Transportation Truck Unit Motorized Signal Platoon Motorized Anti-Tank Platoon Medical Unit Repair and Maintenance Unit Military Band

THE TURKİSH BRİGADE - BATTLES

The Turkish Brigade, between November 1950 and July 1953, fought in the following battles:

Battle of Kunuri (November–December 1950) Kumyangjang-Ni (January 1951) 22–23 April 1951; the Chorwon-Seoul diversion; the

Taegyewonni defense; the Barhar-Kumhwa attacks; and

28–29 May 1953; the Vegas battle during Battle of the Hook.

LOSSES

A total of 14,936 men served in the brigade between 1950–1953 with about 5,455 soldiers in Korea at any one time.

Losses of Turkish Brigade in Korea: 721 killed in action 2,111 wounded 168 missing 234 captive

KOREAN WAR The Turks  who were out of ammunition, - affixed their bayonets and attacked the enemy and there ensued a terrible hand to hand combat.

While the Turks, were for a long time fighting - against the enemy and dying; - the British and Americans were withdrawing.

U.K. British Lit. General Hon. G.G. Martin

The Turkish forces have changed (four) 4 times the destiny of the Korean War during the battles in Korea from 1950 to 1953.

U.K. British Lit. General Hon. G.G. Martin

DECORATİONS

Turkish Brigade commander General Tahsin Yazıcı decorated by US General Walker…

1. Distinguished Unit Citation (United States)

2. Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)

Kenan Evren, seventh President of Republic of Turkey, served in the Brigade from 1958–59.

RESULT

The War ended in 1953. Korea was divided into two parts; The South and The

North. On 18 February1952, Turkey became a member of the

NATO.

The Standard of Turkish Armed Forces in the Korean War, in Istanbul Military Museum.

A CHİLDHOOD DREAM…

My childhood wish

was to visit the Turkish Memorial Cemetery in S.Korea.

The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea

The United Nations Memorial Cemetery is the burial place for 462 of Turkish casualties.

Korean sportsmen show their respects to Turkish Ghazis of the Korean War…