Yaşar Büyükanıt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yaşar Büyükanıt
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Büyükanıt in 2001
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| 25th Chief of the General Staff of Turkey | |
| In office 28 August 2006 – 28 August 2008 |
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| President | Ahmet Necdet Sezer Abdullah Gül |
| Preceded by | Hilmi Özkök |
| Succeeded by | İlker Başbuğ |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 September 1940 Istanbul, Turkey |
| Died | 21 November 2019 (aged 79) Istanbul |
| Resting place | Karacaahmet Cemetery |
| Spouse | Filiz Büyükanıt |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Turkish Land Forces |
| Years of service | 1961–2008 |
| Rank |  General |
Yaşar Büyükanıt (born September 1, 1940 – died November 21, 2019) was a very important military leader in Turkey. He served as the 25th Chief of the Turkish General Staff for the Turkish Armed Forces. This was the highest military position in Turkey. He held this role from August 28, 2006, to August 28, 2008.
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Life and Military Career
Yaşar Büyükanıt was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 1, 1940. He started his military education at the Erzincan Military High School in 1959. He then graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1961. He became an infantry officer, which means he led soldiers on foot.
Early Military Roles
After more training in 1963, he worked in different parts of the Turkish Army. He led small groups of soldiers called platoons. He also commanded special commando companies until 1970.
Staff and Command Positions
In 1972, he finished the Army Staff College. This training helped him take on bigger roles. He worked in operations, taught at the Army Staff College, and handled intelligence for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. He also worked at the main Turkish General Staff (TGS) Headquarters. Later, he became the commander of the Kuleli Military High School and the Presidential Guard Regiment.
Rising Through the Ranks
After studying at the NATO Defence College, he became a brigadier general in 1988. He commanded the 2nd Armored Brigade. He also led the intelligence department at AFSOUTH Headquarters in Naples, Italy.
In 1992, he was promoted to major general. He served as the secretary general of the Turkish General Staff. He also became the superintendent of the Turkish Army Academy. By 1996, he was a lieutenant general. He commanded the 7th Army Corps until 1998. After that, he became the chief of operations for the TGS.
Top Leadership Roles
In 2000, he reached the highest rank, becoming a full General. He served as the deputy chief of the TGS until 2003. He then became the commander of the First Army. In 2004, General Büyükanıt was chosen to lead the entire Turkish Army. Finally, on August 28, 2006, he took command of the Turkish Armed Forces. This made him the most senior military officer in Turkey.
Personal Life and Passing
Yaşar Büyükanıt was married to Filiz Büyükanıt. They had a daughter named Bengü. Sadly, his wife, Filiz, passed away on November 18, 2019. Just three days later, on November 21, 2019, Yaşar Büyükanıt also passed away in a hospital. He was buried at Karacaahmet Cemetery after ceremonies at the headquarters of the First Army and the Big Selimiye Mosque. He is survived by his daughter, Bengü Büyükanıt Caymaz.
Important Public Statements
General Büyükanıt sometimes made public statements about important issues in Turkey. These statements were often watched closely by the media and the public.
Views on National Values
In October 2006, General Büyükanıt gave a speech at the Turkish Military Academy. He spoke strongly about the importance of secular values in Turkey. Secular values mean that the government and public life should be separate from religious beliefs. He also talked about a firm stance against the PKK, which is considered a terrorist group. He also mentioned that some countries allied with Turkey might have allowed groups acting against Turkey to operate there.
The "E-memorandum"
In April 2007, during the 2007 Turkish presidential election, the Turkish military released a statement. This statement, later called the "E-memorandum", warned about the dangers of Islamic fundamentalism. It said that this could threaten Turkey's secular and republican nature. General Büyükanıt later said that he wrote this statement himself. He explained that it was a way for the military to share its views on important national matters.
Meeting with the Prime Minister
After the "E-memorandum", General Büyükanıt had a private meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This meeting took place in May 2007 at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul.
Awards and Honors
General Büyükanıt received many awards for his service. These include:
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
- United States Armed Forces Legion of Merit
- Italian Armed Forces Medal of Merit
- Pakistani Medal of Nishan-e-Imtiaz
