| Greek Expeditionary Force in Korea Εκστρατευτικόν Σώμα Ελλάδος στην Κορέα | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:EKSE_patch.jpg) Shoulder patch of the GEF | |
| Active | November 1950 – May 1958 |
| Country | &sq=&lang=&file=File:State_Flag_of_Greece_(1863-1924_and_1935-1973).svg){kind=small} Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance |  United Nations |
| Branch |  Hellenic Army Hellenic Air Force |
| Type | Reinforced Infantry battalion, later regiment Transport aircraft flight |
| Part of | 15th Infantry Regiment US 1st Cavalry Division US 3rd Infantry Division |
| Engagements | Korean War |
| Decorations | &sq=&lang=&file=File:GRE_Commander%27s_Medal_of_Valour_ribbon.svg){kind=small} Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour&sq=&lang=&file=File:U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg){kind=small} 2 x Presidential Unit Citation (US)&sq=&lang=&file=File:Presidential_Unit_Citation_(South_Korea).svg){kind=small} Presidential Unit Citation (ROK) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Brig. Gen. Ioannis Dascalopoulos[2] Lt. Col. Dionysios Arbouzis[3] Lt. Col. Georgios Koumanakos Sq.Ldr. Georgios Pleionis |
The Greek Expeditionary Force (GEF) in Korea (Greek: Εκστρατευτικόν Σώμα Ελλάδος; romanized: Ekstrateftikon Soma Ellados, abbreviated ΕΚΣΕ) was formed in response to the United Nations appeal for assistance in the Korean War. It comprised a reinforced Hellenic Army (HA) infantry battalion and the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) 13th flight of seven transport planes (C-47). Greece originally intended to send a brigade to Korea; upon consultation with the US, however, the expeditionary force was downgraded to a battalion attached to the US 1st Cavalry Division. The 13th Flight supported the US marine division and played an important role of evacuating the dead and the wounded. After the armistice, the RHAF unit withdrew in May 1955 and the HA unit in December 1955. Greece was the fifth largest troop contributor to U.N. Forces in Korea.[4]
The Greek forces brought valuable combat experience from their war against communist guerrillas in Greece (see Greek Civil War) and they were also skilled in using American weapons. Because of the mountainous terrain in their homeland, they easily acclimated to the Korean topography.[5] Their experience in their mountainous homeland made fighting in the Korean terrain less difficult for the Greeks than it was for the other troops, the UN command was especially impressed by how quickly the Greek troops were able to move.[6]
A total of 10,255 Greek personnel were sent to Korea.[7] 186 or 187 were killed in action and 617 wounded in action.[7] The bodies of all Greek soldiers killed in the war have been returned to Greece.
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- ^ United Nations Command-Greece
- ^ "Korean War Educator: Topics - National Archives Records - RIP 103".
- ^ Edwards, Paul M. (2006). Korean War almanac (1. ed.). New York: Facts On File. p. 517. ISBN 978-0-8160-6037-5.
- ^ Βασιλόπουλος (Vasilopoulos), Χρήστος (Christos) (2007). "Οι Έλληνες στον πόλεμο της Κορέας" [Greeks in Korean War]. Η Μηχανή Του Χρόνου (The Time Machine) (in Greek and English). Greece. Event occurs at 6:47. Alpha TV.
- ^ Stanley Sandler (1995). The Korean War: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 125. ISBN 978-0824044459.
- ^ Paul M. Edwards (2013). United Nations Participants in the Korean War: The Contributions of 45 Member Countries. McFarland. p. 91. ISBN 978-0786474578.
- ^ a b Info from the War Memorial of Korea at South Korea