Mesudiye Village biography
Korean War Veteran (15 Feb 1929 – 25 Feb 2003)
Mesudiye's Korean War veteran — among only 234 prisoners taken from a Turkish brigade of approximately 21,000-23,000. Held in Korea for roughly three years.
Born in Mesudiye in 1929, Ömer Özşahines was conscripted for the Korean War (1950-1953), serving in the Turkish brigade that fought alongside UN forces.
In combat, he was among the small fraction of his brigade taken prisoner — 234 of approximately 21,000 men. He spent approximately three years in captivity in Korea before returning to Mesudiye.
His son Sezgin Özşahines would later become the village's drip-irrigation pioneer; the Özşahines family represents one of Mesudiye's most documented modern lineages.
15 February 1929 – 25 February 2003
Mesudiye (also entered in the İslihisar population register)
Korean War Gazi
~3 Years in Captivity
Son of Salih, his mother Saliha. One of only 234 men taken prisoner out of the 21,000–23,000 soldiers sent from Turkey.
Ömer Özşahines was born on 15 February 1929; he was entered in both the Mesudiye and the İslihisar population registers — a figure who carried the historical bond between the two villages in his own personal life. He was conscripted in 1949 and was sent to take part in the Korean War within the framework of Turkey's NATO membership.
He was taken prisoner during the war and was held as a prisoner of war for roughly 3 years. Among the 21,000–23,000 soldiers sent from Turkey to Korea, he was one of only 234 men who were taken prisoner; that ratio reveals how extraordinary the conditions he was subjected to were.
After being released from captivity he returned to Mesudiye and spent the rest of his life there. Bearing the title “Gazi”, he died on 25 February 2003 at the age of 74.
Birth: 15 February 1929, Mesudiye / İslihisar
Death: 25 February 2003, Mesudiye
Father / Mother: Salih / Saliha
Conscription: 1949
Length of captivity: approximately 3 years
Turkish soldiers taken prisoner (total): 234 men (out of 21,000–23,000)