The Kagnew Battalion: Ethiopia's Korean Conflict Warriors

An Ethiopian officer (armed with the M1 Carbine) and an enlisted man (armed with the M1 Garand). For the most part, they are fully equipped with U.S. weapons, uniforms, and equipment. The exception is the Ethiopian insignia pinned to the collars (visible on the officer). Photograph via the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

      In August 1950, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie heeded the United Nations call for an international force to combat the North Koreans and halt their advance into South Korea. In discussions with the U.S., it was decided to field a single infantry battalion of Ethiopian troops. Despite the country lacking resources, Selassie put out the call for volunteers from Ethiopia’s 1st Division Imperial Bodyguard and due to the overwhelming response, the troops to fill out the battalion were handpicked by Brig.Gen. Mulugetta Bulli. A good portion of the unit was made up of experienced soldiers, officers, and many WW2 veterans. The new unit was given the name Kagnew Battalion after the steed of General Mäkonnen Wäldä-Mika’él Gudessa, Selassie’s father. Although there was one battalion, in actuality, there were three. However, only one battalion was ever in-country at a time. Intensive training was given to acclimate the troops to the conditions, terrain, and environment they’d find in Korea. Under the initial command of Lieutenant Colonel Teshome Irgetu, the Kagnew Battalion boarded the USNS General J.H. McRae on April 12, 1951 and departed for Korea, arriving on May 6, 1951. The troops wore British Pattern 37 uniforms but as time went on, it was replaced with U.S. uniform items with the Pattern 37 uniforms only being worn for ceremonial duties. Due to the older, outdated weapons the Ethiopian military had (and also because of logistical concerns), the U.S. also outfitted the battalion with U.S. small arms, infantry weapons, and equipment and so, after a short period of training on the new weaponry, the Kagnew Battalion was incorporated into the U.S. 7th. Infantry Division as a replacement for one of its battalions. In fact, Kagnew Battalion soldiers would often put the combat service identification badge on their M1 helmets (others the Ethiopian roundel). 

     In rotation, the Ethiopian soldiers of each battalion would see combat from 1951 to 1954, engaging in some 238 total actions with a total of 121 KIA and 536 WIA. That there were no POWs or MIAs was because no Kagnew Battalion soldier allowed themselves to be captured and they never left any man behind. In all, one Silver Star and eighteen Bronze Stars were awarded to Kagnew Battalion soldiers while Lt.Col. Irgetu and 2nd. Lieutenant Haptewold Mamo were awarded the Ethiopian gallantry decoration the Order of Menelik II. Other decorations for the unit included the Korean Order of Military Merit, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Korean Service Medal. Finally, soldiers earned the Ethiopian Kagnew Combat Pin (very much styled after the U.S. Combat Infantry Badge). The unit was disbanded in 1965.