Zenbwerk Belayneh

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Bio

Corporal Zenbwerk Belayneh Gemeda was born in 1929. Before going to Korea, he worked as a shepherd at his parents’ home. At the age of 22, he moved to Addis Ababa and was hired into the Imperial Guard as an infantryman. He served in the Korean Army’s Third Battalion (Kagnew), under the command of Colonel Weldeyohannes Shita. His captain was Sahlu Yergu, and his hundred leader was Colonel Wengel Qosta, with Corporal Abera Wase serving as his commander on the battlefield.

During the battles of Yok and Tibon, he lost his friend, 2nd Lieutenant Bezabeh Ayele, so they named the location Bezabeh in his honor; this marked their first battle. For his service, he received Gold and Silver Medals from His Majesty Haile Selassie, the Korean War Memorial Medal from the Ethiopian Government, and additional honors from Korea and the United Nations, as well as the Union War Adventure Unit. He also received a letter of appreciation from both the United States and the Government of Korea. Remarkably, he was not injured during his time in combat.

After returning from Korea, he served in the Imperial Guard at the 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, as a Heavy Equipment Engineer. He later joined Ethiopian Airlines and retired in 1980, receiving a pension of Birr 144.85 (one hundred forty-four birr and eighty-five cents).

He fondly recalls being greeted by a crowd of Ethiopians along the streets from Janmeda in Addis Ababa to Le Gehar and all the way to Djibouti; it was an unforgettable experience. On the battlefield in Korea, he remembers going out on patrol under their commander’s direction. During a confrontation with enemy forces, they lost Mamo Weldmariam, and Corporal Tegu Weldtekle suffered a severe injury, resulting in the loss of his left hand. Private Taddese Garedu was also injured. Corporal Zenbwerk notably remembers having killed seven enemy soldiers and returning to the battlefield to recover his friend’s body, ensuring they would not be left behind, as well as tending to the wounds of his comrades.