Re: Email about Turkish Brigade

["Harold Stockton" <snolep@texas.net>]

Mooney,

Concerning the fighting abilities of the Turkish Brigade, here is what
American officers said about that:

"In the course of the U.N. offensive and the Chinese counteroffensive, the
1st Turkish Brigade suffered 3,514 casualties, of which 741 were killed in
action, 2,068 wounded, 163 missing and 244 taken prisoner, as well as 298
noncombatant casualties.

"The Turks, armed and trained by American military advisers, did better than
even they had hoped or expected in this, their first real combat since World
War I. The American units to which they were attached respected their skills
and tenacity in combat. Some comments by American officers give insight into
the Turks and their abilities. "They really prefer to be on the offensive
and handle it quite well," went one appraisal. "They are not as good at
defensive positions, and certainly never retreat." Another report told of
their patrol skills: "Certain Turkish patrols always reported high body
counts when they returned from patrols. Headquarters always scoffed at the
high numbers, much higher in fact than any other unit, until the Turks
decided to bring the enemy bodies back and dump them at headquarters for the
body count."" At: http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/TurkishBrigade.htm
This was written by  A.K. Dawson and originally published in Military
History Magazine December 1997. A.K. Dawson teaches history in Darwin,
Australia.

And, "When ammunition ran low, the Brigade fixed bayonets and fought the
enemy hand to hand. Today we honor that first of many battles fought by the
Turkish Brigade in Korea. The Turkish Brigade went on to win two
Distinguished Unit Citations for their gallantry during the Korean War."
Spoken by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson at the Wreath Laying at the Turkish
Korean War Memorial on November 22, 2000. At:
http://usconsulate-istanbul.org.tr/korea/koreamb.html

Also on the same occasion, Major General Elmer D. Pendleton stated on
January 25, 2001 that:

"Finally I want to tell you two points about my thoughts of Turkish soldiers
because that's what this is all about:

A. As a soldier one of the things that i like about Turkish soldiers is that
they are trained to look you right in the eye.. No looking down at their
feet, no lack of confidence, but a feeling of pride in ones's self, one's
army and one's country..
B. Secondly, a popular American army song describing our army says it all
"it wasn't always easy and it wasn't always fair but when we were needed we
were there."

Life isn't always easy and it isn't always fair, but when the Turkish
brigade was needed you were there. On behalf of your American friends, thank
you." At: http://usconsulate-istanbul.org.tr/korea/koreagp.html

And this same unit was to receive a Presidential Unit Citation for its war
efforts. On January 24, 2002, the date marks the 51st Anniversary of the
Turkish Brigade receiving America's presidential citation for valor for its
exemplary combat record during the Korean War and the second ceremony
honoring this occasion. Turkey is also the only nation to receive the
citation twice.

"The unit was deployed along a seven-mile front between I and IX Corps.
Enemy-held hills and Kumyangjang-ni fell to the Turkish Brigade through
bitter hand-to-hand combat. During the Korean War, 741 Turkish soldiers
died, 2,068 were wounded and 407 were missing in action. However, they
inflicted disproportionate casualties on the hostile forces, which reflected
the success of the Turkish contribution to the campaign." At:
http://korea50.army.mil/media/newsrelease/newsRelease_02-06.html

'Nuf said.

Harold Stockton

----- Original Message -----
From: "rbmooney" <rbmooney@bellsouth.net>
To: <KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: Email about Turkish Brigade


> Ed,
> I don't and I can't believe that either man (partly quoted in the Douglas
> email) literally said such nonsense.  I was always taught that we owed our
> lives and futures to the Brits.  Nothing historically has changed to alter
> my beliefs--the evidence is too overwhelming.  The Brits have always held
> the moral high ground because of their singular unwavering courage in
taking
> on the NAZI Germans from 1939 through 1945.  Douglas might try reading the
> Indexes of Churchill's great books ( as they reference Turkey, MacArthur,
> and any other "commentator" about Turkey's past, present, or future role)
> and also Churchill's speech in Fulton, MO where he presciently warns about
> the "Iron Curtain."
> RBMooney
> rbmooney@bellsouth.net
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Evanhoe" <evanhoe1@korean-war.com>
> To: <korean-war-l@UKANS.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 4:15 PM
> Subject: Fwd: Email about Turkish Brigade
>
>
> Anyone know where the quotes Douglas wants to use are located?
>
> Ed
>
> >Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 22:18:39 +0100 (CET)
> >From: D WE <unerfurt@yahoo.de>
> >Subject: Email about Turkish Brigade
> >To: evanhoe1@korean-war.com
> >X-Loop-Detect:1
> >
> >Dear Administrator,
> >
> >Firstly I would like to compliment you on the way you
> >have set up the website. The interface with the
> >nations' respective contributions gives adequate
> >justice to the multi-national forces which fought
> >there. I am currently writing a project on Turkey's
> >entry into NATO in 1952, and would very much like to
> >use MacArthur's and Senator Rose's quotes on the
> >Turkish Brigade
> >
> >I now understand that the vote I gave in favor of
> >assistance to Turkey was the most fitting vote I gave
> >in my life. Courage, bravery and heroism are the
> >greatest virtues which will sooner or later conquer.
> >In this matter, I know no nation superior to the
> >Turks." - Rose - U.S. Senator
> >
> >The Turks are the hero of heroes. There is no
> >impossibility for the Turkish Brigade." - General
> >Douglas MacArthur - United Nations Forces Commander in
> >Chief
> >
> >I am in Germany presently, and have no idea where I
> >could get the sources wherein these quotes reside. I
> >therefore respectfully ask you for this information,
> >and as a gesture of thanks, I will most certainly
> >place 'Procured from www.korean-war.com' in the
> >according footnotes.
> >
> >Much obliged,
> >
> >Douglas
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________________________
> >
> >Gesendet von Yahoo! Mail - http://mail.yahoo.de
> >Logos und Klingeltöne fürs Handy bei http://sms.yahoo.de
>
> Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
> Life member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
> Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
> Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com
>