Tesfaye Asmamaw, 97, a Korean War veteran, said this. Asmamaw set foot in Korea for the first time in about 70 years since his deployment in 1953. Korea, once a vast empty field, has transformed into a city where skyscrapers and nature blend together.
Asmamaw visited Korea with the Kangnew Choir, formed by 34 descendants, to mark the 75th anniversary of the participation of Ethiopia's "Kangnew unit." LG(003550) is sponsoring their stay.
Ethiopia was the only African nation to send ground troops during the Korean War. It decided to deploy about a month after the war broke out. The unit formed at the time, centered on the imperial guard, was the Kangnew unit.
"Kangnew" means "crushing the enemy in the first battle" in Ethiopian. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, when naming the unit, said, "Fight until you win. If not, fight until you die." During the Korean War, the Kangnew unit recorded "253 battles, 253 victories."
But after a coup in Ethiopia in 1974 installed a communist military regime, the veterans faced hardship. They were branded "traitors" for supporting Korea, which leaned pro-U.S. Their property was confiscated, and they endured social discrimination.
Their war records became a scarlet letter, so most photos and documents were burned. Even after the junta collapsed, their descendants struggled.
Asmamaw said he has never regretted serving in the Korean War. He said that even if he could go back and had a choice, he would serve again. We met Asmamaw on the 9th at Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul. The following is a Q&A.
─ You came back to Korea for the first time in 72 years.
"This is my first visit to Korea since the war. Hearing that Korea had developed so much, I always wanted to return. I am glad I could come to Korea with this good opportunity. Seeing a developed Korea makes me feel fulfilled and proud."
─ I'm curious what led you to fight in a war that broke out in the unfamiliar country of Korea.
"It was natural as a soldier. I volunteered at 22 and, after a year of military training, my deployment was decided. The journey to Korea was not easy. I took a train from Ethiopia to Djibouti, then a ship for 21 days to finally arrive in Korea.
My grandfather was a soldier, and my father was in the imperial guard. Although I lost my father when I was about 6, I had a firm resolve to become a soldier across generations. Patriotism and the spirit of the soldier are traditions in our family."
─ What was Korea like at the time?
"I remember hungry children swarming to welcome us as we arrived at the port. We couldn't understand the language, but we could fully feel the warmth. We would break bread we had brought from home into small pieces and share it with the children.
Korea was in a very devastated state. There were hardly any farmlands, and even trees were few. Livestock was limited to a cow or two at most. Every step, our shoes sank deep into the muddy ground, causing trouble. Despite the harsh conditions, I was struck by how diligently women carried firewood."
─ What was the hardest part during your one year of duty?
"Climbing up and down mountainous terrain was the hardest. The soil was soft, making it difficult to move while carrying heavy weapons. Enduring the winter was also tough. Heavy snow piled up and made our legs ache with cold. Although it snows in Ethiopia too, the form is different. If Ethiopian snow is like ice pieces, Korean snow was soft and flowed, almost like a liquid.
Still, the air was so clear that even a short rest after moving quickly restored our strength. The air was so good that it belied the tension of the battlefield."
─ How was it after you returned to Ethiopia?
"Emperor Haile Selassie invited the veterans to the palace for a banquet, but there were no large-scale welcome events. It was closer to coming and going quietly. After returning home, I worked making maps.
I often heard news about Korea. Through friends who served with me, I heard that Korea had become an advanced country. Watching various Korean products, including Samsung Electronics(005930) home appliances, being imported made it real to me. Korean products are popular in Ethiopia."
─ There are claims that the treatment of Korean War veterans is insufficient.
"Other than my military pay, I never received particular compensation. I have thought it sufficient because I believe I did my duty as a soldier. During this visit, even just receiving the "Apostle of Peace" medal from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is meaningful.
Still, I hope later generations do not forget our turbulent history. I would be grateful if education helps people remember the pains of the past and the efforts of the veterans."
─ If you could go back to that time, would you again choose the path of a veteran?
"Even if I could choose again, I would serve. There is not an inch of regret or hesitation. Even if a war were to break out now, I would go to the battlefield."
─ As a Korean War veteran, is there anything you want to say?
"When the Berlin Wall in Germany fell in 1989 and East and West Germany became one, Korea was the first place that came to mind. I hope permanent peace will come to the Korean Peninsula, which we defended with blood.
Today's world is more connected than ever, yet wars still do not stop. Gunfire continues in Russia and in the Middle East. I pray there will be no more wars and that everyone can live in peace."