Email a copy of 'A Tribute to Brig. Gen. Haig Shekerjian' to a friend
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Nanore Barsoumian
Nanore Barsoumian was the editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2014 to 2016. She served as assistant editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2010 to 2014. Her writings focus on human rights, politics, poverty, and environmental and gender issues. She has reported from Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh, Javakhk and Turkey. She earned her B.A. degree in Political Science and English and her M.A. in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts (Boston).
Latest posts by Nanore Barsoumian (see all)
- What’s Behind All the Pro-Azerbaijan Articles? - October 24, 2020
- Sharp Rise in Hate Speech Threatens Turkey’s Armenians - October 8, 2020
- When Erdogan Apologizes - May 9, 2019
Makes you proud for being armenian.Thank you.ES
I had heard of the General and his travels in Armenia soon after the Genocide, but knew little else except that he was accompanied by another Armenian-Amercian namely, Lt. Khachadoorian. Thanks for filling in the details. I believe his nickname was actually “Sheik”.
I loved that story/biography Nanore. I know there’s more out there. Please find ’em. I work in the film industry and Im gonna share this story with my co-workers. They love the Armenian culture and food.
Hye, I knew not of Haig Shekerjian’s connection with ANCHA… we have had such great humanitarians, patriots in our history… For, at St.l Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral in New York city when the ANCHA organization, (with efforts of the owner of the Omar Kayam restaurant of California) was processing and assisting families entering the USA… ARS fed, cared for, then assisted in their relocating (most chose to go to California). The newcomers were all assisted and aided at our St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral, 27th Street, New York City… Too, the Armenian Garmeer Khatch (ARS) women who, volunteering selflessly to assist our newcomers to the USA. We have been blessed with so many in our diaspora for all their efforts for our Armenians – dedicated and devoted to our people across all nations, as well as our Haiastan. And, our ARS, volunteering to assist our people wherever, whenever, however… Armenian style.
Dear Nanor, Thank you so much for reminding us such a great personality of our recent history.I”ve heard about him first time from my lovely neighbor Nazik, who had been in that camp after the war. When he visited the camp for the first time , he did not believe his eyes that these people were Armenian. Then those poor people spoke Armenian in order to convince him. He immediately ordered food for them. Mr. Mardikyan was not only a restaurant owner, he was the main food supplier for the American soldiers in Europe.Together they work so hard to help these people. Since Mr. Mardikyan had very close relation with the government and especially Hoover, this hard work had been done.
These people were not POW’s,Like my neighbor Nazik, they were taking from their hometown Tselanoke, in Greece, and sent to Germany by the Nazis to work as a slave in the factories. There were also Armenian soldiers fighting in Soviet Army, they did not want to go back because being POW, Siberia was waiting for them. Whenever Mr. Shekerjian had been visiting the camp, the Greeks was saying ” You’re King is here”. Yes, indeed, he acted like a king by protecting and saving the lives of his brothers and sisters. These are my neighbors memories who died two years ago.
If you want more information about this time of our history you may read Mr.Mardikyan”s autobiography “Song of America”.
I made a mistake, please read ” Your King is here”. Sorry.
Great article. I am sure there are a lot more of us Armenian American veterans who also agree. Possible book in the future???
“There were also Armenian soldiers fighting in Soviet Army”
In fact, there were more then 500,000 Armenian soldiers in Soviet Army fighting against Nazis. This is out of 2,160,000 total Armenian population of USSR at that time.
325,000 of them were drafted from Armenia proper and the rest from other republics including Georgia and Azerbaijan with 50,000 (or 33% of total Armenian population) from Artsakh-NKR, 25,000 of whom died – Turks loved to send Armenians to die and then count them as their own losses.
The total Armenian losses were more then 300,000 soldiers with 175,000 of them from Armenia proper. Total US losses in WWII were 418,500 compare to USSR’s 23,400,000.
One interesting fact is that many Soviet POWs freed by the US forces died within a short period of time and first were buried together with US soldiers at the same military cemeteries. “But in 1947, as the Cold War was picking up steam, the Americans decided that they wanted the cemetery for their own dead and reburied the remains of Soviet soldiers” to separate cemeteries…
One of such cemeteries in Holland has a website and a Foundation that assists families to find their relatives’ graves: http://www.russisch-ereveld.nl/gezocht_armenie_en.html
There are still at least five Armenian soldiers there whose relatives have not been found yet:
Balasanyan, Artavazd Stepanovich
b. 1910, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Akhalkhalaki district, Burnashet
Arutyunyan, Babken
b. 1907, Oktembryan (Armavir) district
Zakharyan, Amayak Stepanovich (?)
b. 1918
Navzesov (?), Mussa
b. 1900, Yerevan
Petrosyan, Koryun
b. 1915, Akhuryan district, Nerkin-Kanlidzha (Vagramaberd)
The Foundation also offers an opportunity to adopt a grave by people unrelated to the fallen soldiers: http://www.russisch-ereveld.nl/grafadoptie_en.html
http://www.Voskanapat.info
that’s an insanely large number compared to the entire Armenian population. What was the age range of the draftees in the soviet union.
Random Armenian,
I know, it was an insane war that is unfortunately not studied well in schools here aside from the Pacific part of it and the 1944 invasion in Europe.
The numbers I quoted are from a Wikipedia article with pretty good sources. USSR lost estimated 24-28 MILLION people, but more then half of this number were civilians slaughtered by Nazis. The military losses were much higher then they could be but remember that Soviet Union lost most of its European territory without much fight at the beginning of the war and had to retake it meter by meter. The offense is always more costly then defense.
The official draft ages for Soviet soldiers were I believe from 18-45, but in bad years extended further, plus it was common for younger kids to volunteer and lie about their age in order to enlist.
These fallen Armenian soldiers made a huge sacrifice, but they saved civilian population of Armenia proper from Nazi occupation thus saving the nation. For example, Belarus, which was occupied by the Nazis in the beginning of the war lost 25% of its civilian population. In the case of Armenia the losses would be much higher because Turkey was ready to enter the war on the Nazi side but lost interest after the Stalingrad battle. Nevertheless, Soviet Union had to keep about a million troops on the border with Turkey just to discourage it from getting any ideas… These troops were desperately needed in Moscow, Leningrad and elsewhere, but had to stay on the border with Turkey to protect Armenia.
Many Armenian soldiers were fighting in all-Armenian units and showed great courage and heroism en mass defending Crimea, Stalingrad, taking Berlin, and in many other important battles.
A lot of war records are published now online and you can see scanned original military documents with names and dates of when soldiers were killed or MIA. These databases are searchable by name, DOB, place of birth, etc. I was able to find my great grandfather there – he died from wounds in a hospital during the Siege of Leningrad and is buried in a mass grave there – we had no idea. For many of Armenian soldiers the place of birth is listed as “Turkey” or cities in Western Armenia – this means they escaped the Genocide as little kids mostly born between 1910-1918…
http://www.Voskanapat.info
I’m having a hard time with the numbers. I’m not doubting them, it’s just the sheer size of the numbers.
Ages 18-45, makes sense given the number of people recruited.
There were many Armenians in the US who fought in the US military, and they themselves were the sons of genocide survivors. Imagine what their parents were going through with the possibility of losing even more.
If you didn’t know what happened your great grandfather, finding the records must have brought some sort of closure.
I had not heard about Soviet troops in Armenia to discourage Turkey. I’ll have to read up on it.
I found another Armenian general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Isakov He was born in Kars.
Random Armenian,
I didn’t mean to hijack this topic about an American Armenian general…
Maybe there would be an opportunity on this site to publish more articles like this about other famous Armenians in the military.
Isakov was a Fleet Admiral, not a general. There were many others in the Soviet Army, including the most known Marshall Bagramyan who was born in a village in Artsakh that was a birthplace for actually TWO Marshalls (5 star general equivalent I believe) and now occupied by Azeri Turks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280699446168&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
haig shekerjians west point cadet overcoat for sale!!please if youre interested in this man check this out on ebay!
Dear Nanore Barsoumian
Thank you very much for this article. Mr. Shekerjian is one of those GREAT Armenians , who just can’t be forgotten ! When I see such Armenians I become proud of being Armenian. Thank you once more, you’ve done excellent, outstanding job !!!
Best regards
Hrachya Hayrapetyan
This is great information. If you don’t mind I would like to link this information to my website. I think is important to recognize people for their service and sacrafice whatever the background. On a day like today though, I think it is important to remember what a specific ethnicity contributed to our armed forces and how prevelant they were in supporting American values.
I just finished reading the article on Gen. Hair Shekerjian. I was only a few years old when General Shekerjian came to visit the DP camp in Stuttgart.
My father never forgot the good that was done by ANCHA.
On February 22, 2015, a “Hoke Hankist” will be said at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Fresno, California for the Founding Fathers of ANCHA. This “Hoke Hankist” (may they rest in peace) has been requested by the Armenians who were displaced by WWII.
General Haig Shekerjian was my great uncle. I’m very proud of him.
My mother was related to the General’s mother. As a kid I addressed my mail to him as Dear Uncle General. After moving to SF, my brother and I both former USMC military were once serenaded by with a concertina version of the Marine Corps Hymn.
My parents and many other DPs (Displaced Persona) spoke of Gen. Shekerjian and George Mardikian often. He was a source of pride for our people who greatly appreciated his work. He is what a soldier ought to be. Respect.
I have a “short snorter” bank note of Iran bearing the autograph of Brig. Gen. Shekerjian probably signed 1945-46. The back of the note is autographed by the future Shah of Iran.
Thank you for the article.
My mother and tatik (grandmother) were in the DP camp in Stuttgart, and were brought back to the U.S. by General Shekerjian through Mr Mardikian’s efforts. My tatik was then employed by Mr Mardikian as his secretary at Omar Khayyam’s for several years. I owe my family’s freedom and my Armenian-American pride in large part to these fine and humble men, even as my memories of them as a child are vague.
I knew the General in person. In the early sixties he visited Egypt for a lengthy period with his wife.
Residing at the El Borg hotel on the river Nile.
We spent two weeks at the coastal resort town of Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean with a large group of Egyptian Armenians. He was soft spoken kind and a gentle man.
We all took long walks on the beach every afternoon.
He was a true Patriotic Armenian American.
In short, he was nothing like the liberal Democratic Socialists, in charge of ANCHA of today.
Precisely why he was so respected by everyone.