Veterans Use Tourism to Support War Against
Terrorism & Commemorate the "Forgotten War"
The tour participants will be guests at the Turkish military and naval academies.
Bill Alli, American and Turkish Veterans Association (ATVA), WASHINGTON, Aug 9 (ATVA) - "It IS possible to show support for the War Against Terrorism, and to commemorate the "Forgotten" (Korean) War, while doing some fabulous touring," according to Bill Alli of the American and Turkish Veterans Association (ATVA).

ATVA, a nonprofit organization incorporated in Maryland, plans to take up to 60 persons - military veterans and family members - on the "U.S. Veterans Friendship Tour of Turkey," October 27 thru November 8. The tour combines sightseeing with Korean War commemoration activities and people-to-people contacts, both civilian and military. As a Korean War veteran, Alli - who was a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant - is looking forward to meeting veterans of the Turkish Brigade, "who were among our best allies," he adds. He is the Tour Coordinator.

ATVA is taking advantage of the high level of security provided in Turkey's air transportation system (Category 1, according to the U.S. Department of State) and low prices throughout the Turkish economy.

The tour covers the most famous attractions in Turkey: the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, the Grand Bazaar, Troy, Ephesus, Cappadocia, and more. ATVA is even offering a low-priced, six-day Extension Tour on the Mediterranean, in the Antalya region - the "Turkish Riviera" (November 8 - 14).

For the first activity in Turkey, the group will be VIP guests in the official reviewing stands, along with Turkish Government officials and various international guests, to see the impressive Republic Day parade. Other activities include laying a wreath at the Korean War Monument and also at the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk.

The tour participants will be guests at the Turkish military and naval academies. They will meet with the cadets and staff and recount their military experiences, especially Korean War contacts with the valiant soldiers of the Turkish Brigade.

The group will meet active duty military personnel of Turkey and the U.S., because America and Turkey - as NATO allies - are again involved in a war, the War Against Terrorism. U.S. armed forces personnel in Turkey are working closely with the Turkish military to support actions in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Just recently the Turks were given responsibility for heading up the coalition's command in Kabul.

The Basic Tour (Oct. 27 - Nov. 8) is only $1,495 per person. It includes: round-trip transportation from Washington/New York to Turkey, arrival & departure transfers in Turkey, luggage handling, accommodations in 4-star hotels, most meals, airport taxes, local taxes & service charges, sightseeing and entrance fees with licensed, bilingual tour guides, touring in air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach.

The Extension Tour (Nov. 8 - 13) is to "The Turkish Riviera" - Antalya - on the Mediterranean. It is only $595 per person and includes accommodations at a 5-star hotel, plus round-trip transportation (Istanbul - Antalya), arrival & departure transfers, luggage handling, most meals, airport taxes, local taxes & service charges, sightseeing and entrance fees with licensed, bilingual tour guides, touring in air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach.

Alli says he must mention one final thing, which deeply moves him: prisoners-of-war (POWs). He refers to an American POW, who had contact with a Turkish POW named "Hakim," in a Communist prison camp. Forty years after the imprisonment, as Mary Lee Settle describes in her book, Turkish Reflections, the American - whose life was saved by a Turk - said:

"We didn't know how to look after ourselves, and the Turks took pity on us. They thought we were babes in the woods. My friend was Hakim. When I was sick, he brought me food, and he looked after me as he would have another Turkish person. They knew how to survive. ...When I was so sick I thought I was going to die, Hakim brought me soup, and sat with me, and pulled me through it. I think he gave me courage; so many GIs just died because they gave up . . . "

Alli finishes by saying "When our ATVA group gets to Turkey, we're going to seek out Hakim. If he's still alive, we'll express to him our deepest thanks. And if he's dead, we'll say a little prayer to God (Allah), to express our profound gratitude for such good friends of America as Hakim was."

Bill Alli served in Korea (1951-52) with the 2d Battalion., First Marine

Regiment. After the war he became a 2d Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve. Later, he worked for the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the Dept. of State. He served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Pakistan.

For information about the tour, contact Alli by E-mail at wealli@erols.com or telefone 301-464-5664.
ATVA's website is www.atvets.org