Can one person alter the course of history?
During Turkey’s coup attempt in July, Senior Master Sgt. Omer Halisdemir, a noncommissioned officer (NCO) with the Turkish military’s Special Forces Command (OKK), answered that question in the affirmative.
On the night of the coup attempt, Halisdemir played a pivotal role by killing Brig. Gen. Semih Terzi, who was believed to be the leader of approximately 40 special forces operatives who came from southeast Turkey to the capital Ankara to organize attacks against government agencies and the parliament. Earlier that night, Halisdemir had received a phone call from the commander of the OKK, Maj. Gen. Zekai Aksakalli, who said that Terzi was committing high treason by taking part in the coup. Aksakalli ordered Halisdemir, a member of his security detail who was on duty at the OKK headquarters that night, that he would have to kill Terzi to stop a leading member of the coup plotters. The general warned his NCO that death was almost certain. The two men ended the call by bidding farewell to each other.
Several hours later, Terzi showed up at the OKK and Halisdemir casually approached the colleagues accompanying the putschist general. Then he pulled his service pistol and carried out his orders, mortally wounding Terzi. In the dark of the night and ensuing chaos, Terzi’s entourage opened fire on Halisdemir, who soon succumbed to his wounds.
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