The Emperor's Battalion - Ethiopian Troops Korean War

My father, Private Teklewold Deneke, was a member of the first Kagnew Batalion sent to Korea. He also served in the Congo UN peace keeping mission. And later retired as a lanse corporal in 1973. Proud of Him!

A few things that I've heard about the Kagnew battalion. North Korean and Chinese troops feared Ethiopian troops in battle because they believed they were quite literally invincible, this is because after battles, they never saw Ethiopian bodies on the battlefield. The reason for this is Ethiopians have a great respect for the dead, so this meant they gathered fallen comrades immediately. One quick fact is that Ethiopia, at the end of the war, was the only nation to not have any POWs returned to them, because none of them surrendered. South Korea I believe to this day still provides free college admission for the descendents of Kagnew troops who fought in Korea and during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea provided lots of medical supplies, such as masks and test kits to Ethiopia as a way of giving back to Ethiopia's sacrifices during the war.

I had a college professor who joined the US Army in 1954. He told us about later in his army career meeting Selassie in person and speaking highly of him.

My Grandfather, a WWII veteran, continued serving in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. I remember him speaking very highly of the Ethiopians, particularly how they didn't leave their casualties behind. I wish I remembered more details of his stories.

When two Ethiopians finish a conversation they say “Abyssinia!”

I lived and worked in Addis Ababa for two years. I found Ethiopians to be a proud and industrious people. I am not surprised to learn from this great video about Ethiopia's contribution in defending South Korea. It's to M.F.'a credit to highlight the roles of nations beside the U.S. and the U.K. during that conflict.

Love to all our orthodox brothers in glorious Ethiopia from Greece.

Wow My father is the one holding a flower in one hand and a flag on the other. He fought for 3 hours on the battle of 602. It was my father who you presented when he wes awarede the siliver star. captan Teferra waldetensye. I saw him crawling on his chest. Mark!!! I have no words thank you so much!!🙏🙏🙏

Hello Mark - I have shared this informative episode with HIH Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie based in Virginia. HIH has been keeping the flame alive for decades in his capacity President of Crown Council. I had honour of arranging his visits to African and Caribbean leaders including Mandela, the Marleys etc and everywhere he was received with dignity. While Mengistu and company ended in disgrace after their brutal dictatorship, the Emperor's reign is respected. Thank you for your professional work on the contribution of the Kagnew brigade!

Valiant Ethiopians, who fought alongside us. May their bravery be remembered forever.

As an Ethiopian my self i want to tell you that you have done a really great job with this video. It's detailed and really accurate, it's hard to find this kind of videos and works about our history, thank you for the time and effort.

6:47 The soldier on the left is my maternal grandfather Tilaye Engida Woldeegzi. He also served in Congo. He was member of the Imperial Guard. God bless him! An old soldier never dies, just fades away. 🕊

My dad use to tell me of the Ethiopian soldiers that served in the Kagnew Battalion,since his father was in The Imperial Bodyguard during the second invaaion of Ethiopia by Italy.

This is fascinating. I never knew that Ethiopian troops fought in Korea. Thank you for your amazing work, Dr. Felton!

S.L.A. Marshall praised the Ethiopians in his book "Pork Chop Hill." One of the junior officers of the Kagnew Battalion, Demissie Bulto, rose to Major General and was credited with turning back the Somalis in the 1977 Ogaden War. He led a 1989 coup attempt against Mengistu and killed.

I’ve always wanted to learn more about the Ethiopian expeditionary force. An African monarchy sending troops to Asia is a weird situation. Thank you doctor Felton!

My Dad served in the Korean War. He spent a day on the line with the Ethiopian unit giving them familiarization with the sector.

I don't know how you get such informative videos posted so frequently but am pleased you do

머나먼 한국을 수호하신 에티오피아 강뉴부대에게 진심으로 감사드리며 당신들의 숭고한 희생을 절대 잊지 않겠습니다. 🇰🇷🇪🇹

Brig. General S.L.A. Marshall, the official US Army historian wrote the after-action report of the battle for Pork Chop Hill. In it he highly commended the Ethiopian troops as being the best he had seen. "They always fulfilled their mission". In one instance he reported on how they captured several Chinese troops by simply walking up to them in the open. The Chinese thought they were walking to them to surrender.