Eleven people who became veterans during the coup attempt by Fetullahçı Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) on 15 July 2016, were photographed by Anadolu Agency a year later at the exact location they were wounded.
Among the 2 thousand 193 people who were injured during FETÖ's coup attempt, 11 veterans recounted the events that took place a year ago at 10 different locations including the Presidential Complex, Türksat, General Staff, Special Operations Base and Akıncı Base.
Even a year late the common view held by the veterans, who without blinking their eyes poured into the streets during the coup attempt to protect democracy and the will of the people was “If the topic of concern is our nation the rest is just detail.”
“The only feeling that I have ever had was pride”
38-year-old teacher Derya Obacıklı, who came to Akıncı Base on 15 July during the coup attempt in order to stand up against the coup plotters, expressed his feelings in front of the newly named Murted Air Base.
Obacıklı said:
“Coming to the exact location a year later has led to mixed emotions. The only feeling that I have ever had was pride. I recalled that day once again. Just like in our nation’s history, we will never give these traitors an opportunity, not now or ever and we will fight to the last drop of our blood. These are the emotions that ran through me.”
Kerem Eren, a 62-year-old retired officer, while trying to resist FETÖ coup plotters in front of the Chief of Staff on the night of the coup attempt, was injured by a piece of shrapnel that hit his body as a result of a helicopter opening fire. He expressed his emotions by saying, “If today the homeland was in danger, I would go outside in the same manner to defend the homeland. In the presence of those tanks and planes, I would resist with an even bigger appetite.”
He was wounded in front of the Gölbaşı Special Operations Base
One of the names wounded in the Special Operations Base that was bombed on 15 July during the coup attempt, was 49-year-old police officer Gökhan Özken. Özken said that he was at home that night and that he went to the Gölbaşı Special Operations Base after the news of the coup attempt. He explained that he was wounded from the waist and feet as a result of the bomb.
Gökhan Özken said:
“For our homeland, for our flag, for our call of prayer, like that in the case of the Dardanelles and Malazgirt, we will not hand over our holy land to the traitors. We will stand tall for all of our troops and policemen who are fighting for this nation, for those living heroes and those who are no longer here, we will protect what has been entrusted.”
The names of the 11 veterans photographed by the AA correspondent and the places where they were wounded at are as follows:
Derya Obacıklı - Akıncı Base, Enes Alacayaka - Presidential Complex, Ferhat Derecik - Türksat, Gökhan Özken - Special Operations Base, Hasan Genç - 15 July Martyrs Bridge, Kerim Eren - General Staff, Mahmut Sayar - Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Mehmet Bostan - Atatürk Airport, Muhammet Enes Topçu - TRT, Naif Akkan ve Emrah Akkan - General Commandership of Gendarmerie.