"We were soldiers" by Sirvictor

I enlisted to military on April 1th 1970 and served until September 30th 1971. I served at Training School of Signal Corps, Mamak Muhabere Okulu in Ankara.
Telli Alay, Tb I, II. Telli Boluk (Wire Regiment, 1st Wire Battalion, 2nd Wire Company)

I grew up in a military family. All my uncles and close relatives were officers. They were veterans of WW1 and Turkish War of Independance (1919-22)

After graduating from University I served 2 years in Turkish army as Signal Lt. I served at Army Signal Training Division, 1st Wire Regiment, 1st Wire Battalion, 1st Wire Company. As I was made officer I feld my self as Napoleon or Enver Pasha the commander in chief of Ottoman Turkish Armies during WW1. But I was just a Lt.

Our 1st Wire Company was a contraction Company. We teached the soldiers how to erect and construct telephone and telegram poles. Our men were mainly mountain Kurds or Turks who were not able to read and write. But they were strong men. The Kurds spoke little Turkish.

One day while teaching map reading and compass on field I noticed a group of officers were approaching to us. I immediately understood that the AC commander was coming. I run to the group and saluted
-"Signal Lt. Ismail Tosun Saral with 2 NCOs and 40 men is ready to your inspection Sir"
The general shaked my hand and asked the men
"Merhaba Asker"(Hello Soldiers"
The men shouted in chorous:
""sagol" (Long Live Sir)
The general:
"How are you?
-"We wish you a long live Sir"
Then The General wanted to ask a question to one of the men. A drop of cold sweat falled slowly from my neck to my back. The General asked a men on the line to explain what he learned. The man made a few steps forwards and shouted
-"Signal Soldier Sehmuz Yilmaz son of Ali Yilmaz from Hakkari" Hakkari is a mountanious province in East Turkey near to Iraq and Iran. He took the compass and began to explain like a staff officer. I was very surprized.
The General was very happy. He ordered his adjutant to give him 15.- Turkish Lira as premium which was a lot of money at that time.
And to me? He ordered a decoration to me. It was the first and last decoration that I got in the army.

Before leaving he asked me
"What was your name son?"
-"Signal Lt. Ismail Tosun Saral Sir"
"Do you have any relation with Ahmet Hulki Saral Pasha?"
-"yes Sir, He is my father" I replied

He turned to his staff and said:
"A best son of a best man"

That night as I told the story to my father he said a very long "Goooood" and continued" He was a company commander in my 42nd Regiment"

I never wanted that my duty in the army ends after 2 years. I always wanted that the time stops.

Now I am a 67 years old retired Bank Manager. Every time I see a soldier passing near by me I stop and look after him in great admiration. Because he is a Turkish Soldier.A son of ours. A precious son of our Fatherland.

First day at army barracks. April 1st 1970. Shaking hands with Dr.Jur. Dogan Alnar. Cadets of Signal Team Nr 9 of 103th Company.

Returning from exercise on a hot August day

At a rest

Brand new and sharp Signal Oficers of the Turkish Army.

We gathered 33 years later on February 28th 2004 in Ankara.
Again me shaking hands with Dr.jur. Dogan Alnar from Istanbul.

My elder son Ahmet Saral during his military service at Mortar Company in Amasya.