In 1915, I was a young soldier fighting under the command of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The battlefield was a living hell—filled with fear, chaos, and the constant threat of death. Yet, amidst that darkness, Atatürk’s leadership was a beacon of hope.
I still remember his powerful words: “I do not order you to attack; I order you to die.” Those words struck us to the core—not because they demanded sacrifice, but because they revealed the depth of our cause. We weren’t fighting for glory or medals. We were fighting for the future of our nation.
Despite the unbearable conditions, the hunger, the pain, and the loss, we stood our ground. And Atatürk stood with us—not as a distant commander, but as one of us. His courage, calm presence, and unshakable belief in the Turkish people gave us strength when we had none left.
We didn’t just follow orders; we followed a vision—a dream of a free and sovereign Turkey.
When the battle was over, we were deeply grateful to be alive. But more than that, we knew we had been part of something greater. We hadn’t just survived—we had helped shape history.