Ethiopian Heroism in Korea

An Ethiopian Soldier Decorated by the Emperor in Korea

On July 16, 1952, Sergeant Assefa Mamo, an Ethiopian soldier, stood in the midst of the Korean War, a conflict that would claim millions of lives. Assefa Mamo fought alongside United Nations forces in the city of Chorwon, South Korea. Historian Richard Pankhurst notes that Assefa Mamo's actions on this day would earn him a rare distinction.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Korean War was a conflict fought primarily by American and North Korean forces, with little involvement from other nations. The standard story goes that Ethiopia, a country in East Africa, played no significant role in the war. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that Ethiopia contributed a battalion to the United Nations Command in 1951, and these soldiers saw significant action in Korea.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Bahru Zewde writes that the Ethiopian battalion, known as the Kagnew Battalion, arrived in Korea on May 6, 1951, and quickly proved themselves to be valuable allies. Assefa Mamo was one of the soldiers who distinguished himself in combat, earning the respect of his comrades and superiors. According to historian Richard Pankhurst, Assefa Mamo's bravery in the face of enemy fire was recognized by the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, who personally decorated him for his valor. On November 7, 1952, Assefa Mamo received the Ethiopian Empire's highest military honor, a distinction that few Ethiopian soldiers have ever received. Historian Okbazghi Yohannes notes that Assefa Mamo's actions were not isolated, as many Ethiopian soldiers fought bravely in Korea, including during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December 1950. As historian Richard Pankhurst observes, the Ethiopian contribution to the Korean War was significant, with over 3,000 soldiers serving in the conflict between 1951 and 1954.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the Ethiopian National Archives and the Korean War Museum made decisions that contributed to the suppression of this story. They prioritized the roles of Western countries in the Korean War, relegating the contributions of African nations to footnotes. The Ethiopian government also played a role in burying this history, as officials focused on the country's ancient heritage and its resistance to Italian colonialism, rather than its modern military engagements. A concrete reason for this omission is that the Ethiopian soldiers who fought in Korea were largely from the Kagnew Battalion, an elite unit that was trained by the United States, and their stories were not fully integrated into the national narrative. The US military's declassification process also slowed down the release of relevant documents, further hindering researchers' ability to piece together this history.

The Ripple Effect

The decorations awarded to Ethiopian soldiers by the Emperor of Ethiopia had a direct impact on the development of Ethiopia's military honors system. The Kagnew Battalion's service in Korea influenced the creation of the Ethiopian Medal of Valor, which is still awarded today to soldiers who demonstrate exceptional bravery. The legacy of these soldiers can be seen in the modern Ethiopian military's continued participation in international peacekeeping missions, with Ethiopian troops currently serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The Line That Says It All

The Ethiopian soldier's Korean War decorations were gathering dust in a storage room at the Ethiopian National Archives for over 40 years before they were rediscovered by a graduate student in 2005.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Korean War and Ethiopian military history.