Garo Kahkejian
Encyclopedia
Garo Kahkejian was a famed Armenian
military
commander and participant in the Nagorno-Karabakh war
. He was the founder and commander of the «Խաչակիրներ» ("Crusaders") volunteer detachment, and was known by his nickname
"The White Bear".
Kahkedjian was one of the Armenians from the Diaspora
who volunteered to go and fight in the Karabakh conflict.
, Syria
. He was educated in Germany and received a degree in architecture. In 1978 he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Frankfurt Engineering University
. Afterwards, he lived in Fresno
, California
.
After the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake Kahkedjian arrived in Armenia for the first time, where he assisted the affected communities and helped raise funds from the diaspora.
In the wake of the interethnic violence in Azerbaijan
, Kahkedjian organized the "Crusaders" detachment and participated in the battles of Martuni
, Hadrut
, Mardakert, Lachin
and Kelbajar.
During the battle for the height of "Pushkenyal" he fought with his detachment, thus keeping the height until the arrival of Armenian forces. Kahkedjian died on June 26, 1993 near Mardakert in battles near the village Magauz.
Garo Kahkedjian is buried at Yerablur
.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
commander and participant in the Nagorno-Karabakh war
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
. He was the founder and commander of the «Խաչակիրներ» ("Crusaders") volunteer detachment, and was known by his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"The White Bear".
Kahkedjian was one of the Armenians from the Diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
who volunteered to go and fight in the Karabakh conflict.
Biography
Kahkedjian was born in 1962 in AleppoAleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. He was educated in Germany and received a degree in architecture. In 1978 he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Frankfurt Engineering University
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
The Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences is a large public university in Frankfurt am Main in Germany....
. Afterwards, he lived in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
After the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake Kahkedjian arrived in Armenia for the first time, where he assisted the affected communities and helped raise funds from the diaspora.
In the wake of the interethnic violence in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Kahkedjian organized the "Crusaders" detachment and participated in the battles of Martuni
Martuni
Martuni is a province of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It consists of the branch of Nagorno-Karabakh which juts out farthest to the east, almost reaches Stepanakert on the west, and goes a little past Karmir Shuka on the south...
, Hadrut
Hadrut
Hadrut is a province of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It forms the southern border of Nagorno-Karabakh, and one of the most mountainous parts. Villages are primarily found along two river valleys and scattered in lower elevations on the very southern fringe...
, Mardakert, Lachin
Lachin
Lachin is a town in Azerbaijan and the regional center of the Lachin Rayon. Since 1992 the area has been under the control of the de facto independent unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which has renamed the town Berdzor . The town and its surrounding region serve as the strategic Lachin...
and Kelbajar.
During the battle for the height of "Pushkenyal" he fought with his detachment, thus keeping the height until the arrival of Armenian forces. Kahkedjian died on June 26, 1993 near Mardakert in battles near the village Magauz.
Garo Kahkedjian is buried at Yerablur
Yerablur
Yerablur is a military cemetery located on a hilltop in the outskirts of Yerevan, Armenia. Since 1988, Yerablur has become the home of the Armenian soldiers who have lost their lives during the Nagorno-Karabakh war...
.
External links
- Fedayi.ru, Каро "Спитак Арч" Кахкеджян