Turkey Ankara (2)
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>> My name is Yusef Gonidan. I am a retired sergeant major, and I work at the Turkish War Veteran's Association as the deputy president, and I went to Korean War voluntarily.
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>> I was ...
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>> When I went to Korean War, I was at the age of 19 years old, and when I went to Korea, cease-fire decision was taken, and ...
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>> We changed to the US division, 25th division of the US, 25th division of the ...
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>> We take their place.
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>> I stayed at the front line for 6 months.
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>> As I did a sergeant major reconnaissance, I served at the reconnaissance unit.
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>> Six months later, US division took our place, and we withdrew.
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>> Fourteen months later, we returned to Turkey.
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>> I know that Turkish troops fought during the Korean War, as if they fought in their country, as if they are defensing their country.
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>> In the beginning, I said that I went to Korean War voluntarily. If you ask me why I went voluntarily, freedom of a country was taken his hand ... Or one country was losing his freedom, so I wanted to protect the freedom of the one independence country, independent country.
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>> Twenty-one thousand ...
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>> Twenty-one thousand Turkish soldiers participate in Korean War.
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>> Six more Turkish military served in Korea after the cease-fire.
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>> Korean government wanted to keep the US, British and Turkish troops in their country after the cease-fire.
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>> Even though 21,000 Turkish soldiers served or fought in Korean War, later, we continued to send in our troops to Korea. Altogether, 57,000 Turkish soldiers served in Korean War.
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>> I visited Korea number three times after the war.
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>> I like the Korean people very much.
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>> They like us too.
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>> Whenever they see us, they show their respect.
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>> Whenever I see these [FOREIGN LANGUAGE], I was on the edge of crying.
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>> I feel that Korea is my second country.
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>> It's why I named ... My son's name means war. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] means war.
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>> Thank you very much for listening.
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>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
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