اللواء التركي في الحرب الكورية

Turkish Brigade
Turkish Brigade commander General Tahsin Yazıcı receiving the Silver Star from Lieutenant General Walton Walker (December 15, 1950).
نشطة	1950–1960
البلد	تركيا
الولاء	الأمم المتحدة
الفرع	Army
النوع	Infantry Brigade
الحجم	14,936 (over duration of the conflict)
جزء من	US 25th Infantry Division
الكنية	North Star
الاشتباكات	Korean War
التكريمات	Distinguished Unit Citation (United States) Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)
فـُضت	1960
القادة
أبرز القادة	Brigadier General Tahsin Yazıcı (1950 – November 16, 1951) Assistant: Celâl Dora Chief of Operations: Faik Türün Namık Arguç (-August 20, 1952) Assistant: Nuri Pamir (June 5, 1952  †.) Sırrı Acar (July 6, 1953)

The Turkish Brigade (code name North Star, تركية: Şimal Yıldızı or Kutup Yıldızı) was a Turkish Army Infantry Brigade that served with the United Nations Command during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. Attached to the U.S. 25th Infantry Division, the Turkish Brigade fought in several actions and was awarded Unit Citations from Korea and the United States after fighting in the Kunuri Battle. The Turkish Brigade developed a reputation for its fighting ability, stubborn defense, commitment to mission, and bravery.

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 Background

On 29 June 1950 the Republic of Turkey replied to the United Nations Resolution 83 requesting military aid to South Korea, following the attack by North Korea on 25 June. The cable stated: "Turkey is ready to meet his responsibilities." On 25 July 1950 Turkey decided to send a brigade of 5,000 troops comprising three infantry battalions, an artillery battalion and auxiliary units, to fight under UN Command against North Korea and subsequently the People's Republic of China. Turkey was the second country to answer the UN call, after the United States.

Members of the Turkish Brigade move into position in December 1950, shortly after suffering severe casualties attempting to block encirclement of the U.S. 2nd Division at the Chongchon river in North Korea.

Three different Turkish Brigades served in the Korean War. The core of the 1st Turkish Brigade was the 241st Infantry Regiment based at Ayaş, which was supplemented with volunteers to raise it to brigade level. Brigadier General Tahsin Yazıcı, a veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign, commanded the 1st Brigade.

The 1st Turkish Brigade consisted of three battalions, commanded by Major Imadettin Kuranel, Major Mithat Ulunu, and Major Lutfu Bilgon. The Turkish Armed Forces Command (TAFC) was a regimental combat team with three infantry battalions, along with supporting artillery and engineers. It was the only brigade-sized unit attached permanently to a U.S. division throughout the Korean War.

Brigadier General Tahsin Yazici was highly regarded in the Turkish military establishment. He stepped down a rank in order to command the first contingent of Turks in the Korean War. While there were cultural and religious differences between Turkish and American troops, both were disciplined forces capable of adapting. However, there was a language barrier that was more difficult to overcome. General Yazici did not speak English, and Americans had overlooked the difficulty the language barrier would present.

The brigade had a full turnover after a period of one year's service. During the service of the 3rd Brigade in 1953, the Korean Armistice was signed. Thereafter, Turkey continued maintaining forces at full brigade level for another seven years, in accordance with United Nations agreements. Kenan Evren, the seventh President of the Republic of Turkey, served in the Brigade from 1958 until 1959.

The advance party of the Turkish Brigade arrived in Pusan on 12 October 1950. The main body arrived five days later, October 17 from the eastern Mediterranean port of Iskenderun, Turkey, and 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.

جنود أتراك في الحرب الكورية 1950.

 Composition

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

The Turkish Armed Forces Command (TAFC) was a regimental combat team with three infantry battalions, along with supporting artillery and engineers. The three battalions were commanded by Major Imadettin Kuranel, Major Mithat Ulunu, and Major Lütfü Bilgon. It was the only brigade-sized UN unit attached permanently to a U.S. division throughout the Korean War.

 Losses

Overall losses for the Turkish Brigade in Korea was 721 killed in action, 2,111 wounded and 168 missing. Among the losses is the lone Turkish pilot, Muzaffer Erdönmez, who piloted a US B-26 and was shot down over Wonch Ang-nı while bombing the railroad tracks. A total of 14,936 men served in the brigade between 1950–1953 with about 5,455 soldiers in Korea at any one time. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea is the burial place for 462 of those casualties. Two memorials to the Turkish soldiers are at the cemetery.

 Popular culture

In 1954, a Turkish film bearing the operation code name of the Turkish Brigade (Şimal Yıldızı), directed by Atıf Yılmaz and starring Ayhan Işık, which praised the deeds of the unit was released.

The Turkish Brigade is featured in the Unification Church-funded 1982 film Inchon, which inaccurately depicts the Turkish Brigade as being involved in the Battle of Inchon (in reality the Brigade did not arrive until the month after the battle). Gabriele Ferzetti plays the commander of the Brigade.

7th President of Turkey, Kenan Evren had served in Korea in Turkish Brigade, 1958-1959.

The 2017 Turkish film Ayla: The Daughter of War is based on the true story of a young war orphan nursed back to health from near-death by a sergeant in the Turkish Brigade but torn apart from him when he was unable to take her back to Turkey at the end of the war, and their reunion sixty years later.

Korean War Memorial in New York City

 See also

• South Korea–Turkey relations

 References

• Appleman, Roy E. (2008). Disaster in Korea: The Chinese Confront MacArthur. Vol. Volume 11 of Texas A & M University military history series: Texas A and M University (illustrated ed.). Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 160344128X. Retrieved 18 April 2014. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
• Blair, Clay (2003). The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950–1953 (illustrated, reprint ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1591140757. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
• Blair, Clay (Dec 12, 1987). The forgotten war: America in Korea, 1950. Times Books. ISBN 0812916700. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
• Leckie, Robert (1996). Conflict: The History of the Korean War, 1950–53 (illustrated, reprint ed.). Da Capo Press. ISBN 0306807165. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
• Leckie, Robert (1962). Conflict: The history of the Korean War 1950–1953. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Archived from the original on Feb 19, 2008.

 Further reading

• Sŏ, Sŏk-pong (2007). Brother Nations, Korea and Turkey: a history of Turkish soldiers' participation in the Korean War. Seoul: Ministry of Patriots' and Veterans' Affairs. OCLC 243703768.

 External links

• Korean War: 1st Turkish Brigade's Baptism of Fire
• The Turkish Brigade
• The Turkish Brigade
• Korean War – Part 18, Retreat from the North, YouTube, 8:50min