Hunde Jawi Robele
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Bio
Corporal Hunde Jawi (Korean War Service number: 122 and Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association number 2389) appropriately carried out his military obligation by deploying alongside the 1st “Kagnew” Battalion, fellow soldiers sent to Korea for the first time in 1951
When the UN Secretary-General asked for military assistance to South Korea in July 1950, since Ethiopia was strictly remonstrating against the atrocity invaders and in accordance with the covenant concluded in the United Nations, and when the honorable guard was established for the second time and while performing military service, King Haile Selassie selected some 1,200newly organized soldiers of one battalion to Korea.
All of the selected Ethiopian forces were Royal Guards, rather than combatants. King Haile Selassie named the battalion Kagnew, meaning ” difficult to penetrate or to strike a fatal hit. The Kagnew Battalion, led by Lieut. Colonel Kebbede Guebre arrived in Pusan on May 6, 1951.
Upon arrival in Korea, the Ethiopian soldiers moved to the UN camp in Dongrae, where they were supplied with American equipment, given eight weeks of basic military adaptation training, and armed with US equipment. It took quite a long time for the soldiers to adapt to a new modern weapons system and unfamiliar tactics, but they were quite enthusiastic about their training.
Three days after the Ethiopian Battalion was committed to the front, it had its first engagement with Chinese forces at Bongdangdeokri in the Hwacheon area. They won the 4-hour battle, and during it, the Ethiopian soldiers gained confidence in combat. After that, they played a part in blocking the Chinese attack in the central forward area.
According to MPVA
The battle of Jeokgeun Mt. Samhyun (Hill 700ã 602,1951.9.21~22, was the battle in which the Ethiopia Battalion attacked Hill 700 and Hill 602, outposts of the Chinese Communist 200th Division, which it was facing while defending the main defense line located in the west of Jeokgeun Mt. It captured Hill 700 on the first day of the attack, but not Hill 602. In the second attack, it captured Hill 602 after a fierce battle and destroyed the defense facilities built on both hills before returning.
The Ethiopian 1st Battalion, which had been attached to the US 7th Division, engaged in a fierce battle for the first time on August 12, 1951. Thereafter, the 1st Battalion dispatched platoon or company-sized reconnaissance units several times. They destroyed the enemy’s outposts, contributing to the 7th Division’s operation.
When the US 9th Corps in the mid-east front launched an operation to secure an advanced base to attack Keumsong, the Ethiopian Battalion also initiated an attack and occupied Hill 700 near Samhyon on September 21. They occupied Hill 602 the next day with artillery and air-fire support. In this combat, the enemy suffered 179 deaths. Later, the “First Kagnew Battalion, Imperial Expeditionary Force to Korea” was awarded a citation by the US President for its achievements (a picture of the award is attached below). On March 28, 1952, the 1st Battalion returned home.
Corporal Hunde Jawi (Korean War Service number: 122 and Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association number 2389) has appropriately carried out his military obligation by deploying alongside the 1st “Kagnew” Battalion fellow soldiers sent to Korea for the first time in 1951, and upon his return, he and his fellow soldiers were received a hero’s welcome.
On his return from Korea, he was chosen for a second time for military service and was again sent to Congo for peacekeeping in 1960. He was a valiant soldier. The medals and trophies of honor presented to Corporal Hunde Jawi during his military service: 1. The 1st Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Korea memorial Gold medal 2. The 1st Imperial Majesty Korea Memorial Silver medal 3. Service medal of 15 years 4. Emperor Menelik II’s long-term service military medal 5. United Nations Korean Memorial Medal 6. Korean Memorial Medal from the Korean government 7. Congo’s Peacekeeping Medal 8. Congo’s Peacekeeping medal from the United Nations 9. Joint feat medal unit citation from the government of Korea 10. Joint feat medal unit citation from the United Nations 11. Warrior insignia from the Ethiopian government. Corporal Hunde Jawi has begotten two girls and two boys, a total of four children, from his legal wife. Since death is inevitable, we do hereby notify you that he passed away on 17/01/2006 due to the ailment that befell him at 81st years old.
Source:
Most texts are adopted from MPVA, and some are from the CPL Short Life History Document. Hunde Jawi, accessed from EKWVA, Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association, and some information collected from families.
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