Kemal Aslan (b. 2001, Merkez, Elazığ) is a Turkish military officer. After completing primary, middle, and high school, he was admitted to the Machine Operator program at İzmir Dokuz Eylül University. During his university studies, he took the contract soldier examination, passed the interviews, and began his military career.^【1】

Kemal Aslan was one of three children in a family engaged in trade and residing in Elazığ. After completing primary and middle school, his interest in a military career began during his middle school years, when he participated in entrance examinations for military high schools through the Secondary School Transition System. Although he achieved strong scores in these exams, he continued his civilian education following his family’s guidance. During higher education, he was admitted to the Machine Operator program at İzmir Dokuz Eylül University and continued his studies remotely for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his second year of university, he voluntarily applied for contract soldier status and successfully completed the interviews held in Ankara. Despite his family’s encouragement to pursue commercial activities, he chose to begin military service, which he described as a childhood dream.

Throughout his military career, he served in the Vize district of Kırklareli, in Şanlıurfa, and subsequently in the Northern Iraq region as part of cross-border operations. During the February 6 earthquakes, he was temporarily deployed to Malatya, where he actively participated in debris removal and rescue operations. After completing his duties in the earthquake zone, he was granted a short leave in Elazığ before returning to his unit in Northern Iraq.

Aslan served continuously for approximately nine months in Northern Iraq, operating under harsh climatic and terrain conditions. Due to water shortages and inadequate hygiene facilities in the region, he relied on supplies sent by his family to meet basic needs. During his service, he assumed administrative and operational responsibilities as the platoon commander’s assistant. He frequently expressed his compatibility with military life and his strong desire to serve in mountainous terrain.

^{Kemal Aslan (Source: Yeter Aslan)}

Kemal Aslan lost his life on December 22, 2023, during an attack on his base in Northern Iraq and the ensuing combat. On the day of the engagement, he spent the morning repairing a generator due to a technical malfunction. In the afternoon, around 15:30, as heavy fog and snowfall began, he joined the intense firefight. During the engagement, he moved to support fellow soldiers and was martyred after approximately 45 minutes to an hour of close-quarters combat.

Following his death, examinations of his mobile phone revealed two pages of notes under the heading “To Do.” These included items such as visiting the graves and families of fallen comrades, visiting martyr tombs in Elazığ, assisting needy relatives, and supporting his sibling’s education. His family accepted these notes as a testament and began fulfilling the specified obligations.

After being martyred in Northern Iraq, Kemal Aslan was transported with his fallen comrades to Şırnak, and subsequently to his hometown of Elazığ following a ceremony. A funeral prayer, led by İl Müftüsü İrfan Üstündağ at the İmamı Azam Camii, was performed before his burial.

^{Ceremony for Kemal Aslan and His Fallen Comrades} (Anadolu Ajansı)

In addition to his family and loved ones, several political figures attended the ceremony. These included former Deputy Minister of National Defense Şuay Alpay, Governor Ömer Toraman, AK Party Members of Parliament from Elazığ Erol Keleş, Ejder Açıkkapı, and Mahmut Rıdvan Nazırlı, 8th Corps Commander Major General Tamer Atay, Mayor Şahin Şerifoğulları, Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor Aşkın Yeğin, Fırat University Rector Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Göktaş, Tunceli Munzur University Rector Prof. Dr. Kenan Peker, and Provincial Police Chief Adnan Karayel.^【2】

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent condolences to the families of Kemal Aslan and the other fallen soldiers.^【3】After his martyrdom, Kemal Aslan has been honored by his loved ones, and a school in his hometown of Elazığ has been named after him.^【4】