Nezahat Onbaşı

Close your eyes and imagine a battlefield. If you saw a twelve-year-old child riding a horse alongside adult soldiers, their courage serving as an example, what would you feel? This hero is Nezahat Onbaşı, one of the names of the National Struggle.

Nezahat was born in 1908. At the age of nine, she lost her mother. Her father, Colonel Hafız Halit Bey, took her with him to the heart of the war because he had no one else to leave her with. Instead of playing in playgrounds, Nezahat grew up on the battlefronts.

^{Visual representation of Nezahat Onbaşı (generated by artificial intelligence).}

Nezahat learned to ride horses and handle weapons among the soldiers. She participated in many battles alongside her father, including the First and Second Battles of İnönü, the Battle of Sakarya, and the Gediz Campaign. Due to her outstanding performance, she was awarded the rank of onbaşı at the age of twelve.

One day, during an inspection, she met Mustafa Kemal Paşa. When Paşa asked her what she could do, Nezahat replied: "I am the fortress of the soldier; the soldiers will not retreat until I do!" These words earned her the admiration of Mustafa Kemal Paşa.

^{Visual representation of Nezahat Onbaşı (generated by artificial intelligence).}

Nezahat Onbaşı was the first citizen proposed for the Independence Medal in Türkiye. However, due to the intensity of the war, this decision could not be implemented at the time. ^【1】Nezahat Onbaşı passed away in 1993. ^【2】In 2013, her medal was presented to her granddaughter, formally recognizing her heroism.

Nezahat Onbaşı proved that love for the homeland has no age. Her courageous heart continues to guide and inspire to this day.