Greek Expeditionary Force (Korea)

The Greek Expeditionary Force (GEF) in Korea (Greek: Εκστρατευτικόν Σώμα Ελλάδος; romanized: Ekstrateftikon Soma Ellados, abbreviated ΕΚΣΕ) was formed in response to the United Nations appeal for assistance in the Korean War. It comprised a reinforced Hellenic Army (HA) infantry battalion and the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) 13th flight of seven transport planes (C-47). Greece originally intended to send a brigade to Korea; upon consultation with the US, however, the expeditionary force was downgraded to a battalion attached to the US 1st Cavalry Division. The 13th Flight supported the US marine division and played an important role of evacuating the dead and the wounded. After the armistice, the RHAF unit withdrew in May 1955 and the HA unit in December 1955. Greece was the fifth largest troop contributor to U.N. Forces in Korea.

The Greek forces brought valuable combat experience from their war against communist guerrillas in Greece (see Greek Civil War) and they were also skilled in using American weapons. Having recently fought in the mountainous terrain of their homeland, they easily acclimated to the Korean topography, and the UN command was especially impressed by how quickly Greek troops were able to move.

A total of 10,255 Greek personnel were sent to Korea. 186 or 187 were killed in action and 617 wounded in action. The bodies of all Greek soldiers killed in the war have been returned to Greece.