8-1-2016
This story addresses the return of Emperor Haile Selassie returning to Asmara, Eritrea and reclaiming his throne as Emperor of Ethiopia. I was a member of the American Military that was stationed at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Eritrea, and Ethiopia from August 1958 thru October 1962. The coup occurred in the 1960’s.
Background
Eritrea was an axis [Italian and Germany] occupied territory during World War II. There was no Eritrean Government. The Italians also occupied Abyssinia [Ethiopia today]. The Abyssinian Emperor Melineck was in exile in England. When World War II ended in East Africa, the Emperor returned to Abyssinia and claimed his throne in 1946. After his death, he was superseded by Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia. The League of Nations extended the border of Ethiopia to include the neighboring county of Eritrea because the Eritreans has no government. Haile Selassie assigned the Second Ethiopian Military Division to establish law and order in Eritrea. The League of Nations was later identified as the United Nations. Meanwhile in 1948, the United States Military supported Haile Selassie in the administration of Eritrea thru Eritrean Independence in 1974.
Overthrow of Government
In the early 1960’s, the Emperor was out of country on a diplomatic trip. Some of his cabinet overthrew him in a quiet coup. When the report of the coup was announced, the United States Military stationed at Kagnew Station, Asmara went on high alert. All dependents, spouses and children were told to pack one suitcase for travelling. Contents was to be four days clothing plus any medical prescriptions. The evacuation plan was put in place to move dependents by armed convoy to the State Department airstrip in Decamere, Eritrea about 20 kilometers from the base. Dependents were to be flown to Rheine Main AFB in Germany and then onto McGuire AFB in New Jersey. The military was put on alert to defend the base in the event that the coup extended to Eritrea. Needless to say, emotions were high as the Americans had no idea what the new government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was up to and how they would react to the American Military Base in Asmara, since they now had control of Eritrea also.
How did this affect the Hannigan Family who had accompanied me on my tour to Asmara? To say the least it meant that the family could not go to the main base unless accompanied by Military Police escort. This meant that every time the family had a medical appointment or to go to church, we had to call the Military Police. In addition, an Ethiopian Soldier stood 24 hour guard at gate to my off post house for our protection. Our maid could not go home at the end of the day, she had to live in the garage. We were in s state of flux until the United States of America decided how to handle the coup. As ordered, my wife Joanne made sure that her and our three children, John Clark 4 years old, Catherine Mae 3 years old, and David Brian 4 months old had the necessary clothing and medication to cover the four day trip to the United States. Actually, there was a lot of tension between Joanne and me during the first couple of days of the coup. What was to become of household goods and our automobile? What about personal thing like family pictures, children toys, even the two German Shephard dogs that guarded our house 24 hours a day? If, the family was evacuated as planned from the State Department airstrip in Decamere, when would we be reunited as a family? Little things like did Joanne have enough money to support herself and the children during the evacuation and trip back to the United States. Was Joanne’s passport updated with current pictures of the children? Being evacuated, how was she able to obtain the necessary exit and entrance visas to enter the United States. As you can see, we were in a turmoil getting ready to leave and I still had to maintain my military duty leaving all the preparation to her.
After the second day of the coup, the First Army Division and the Palace Guards in Addis Ababa remained loyal to the Emperor. The Second Army Division in Asmara also remained loyal to the Emperor. This relieved some tension in Asmara. On base activity seemed to improve. The Second Division set up defensive perimeters around the base and the communication sites. The dependent armed convoy was put on hold. What an anxious thirty odd hours we lived thru. During the next few days, the daily routine returned to normal and we were able to go to the base at our own leaser. The evacuation of dependents was cancelled. My three children did not realize at their young age that they live thru a coup attempt of a Foreign Country’s Head of State.
After a week went by, we were advised by the Base Commander that Emperor Haile Selassie was going to land at Asmara Airport and under an Ethiopian Military Guard visit Kagnew Station to announce to the world that he was regaining his throne in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Upon his arrival on Base, he went to Base Radio-TV Station and told the Ethiopian and Eritrean people that He reclaimed his Throne in Addis Ababa, and that the members of the coup would be taken care of upon his return to Addis Ababa. The coup also affected our families in the United States. They had no idea what our status was in Asmara. Over the next few week, letters from home and our replies gave the families relief that we were still safe and in no danger from the coup.
In addition considering that he was Head of State, the Base Commander had an Honor Guard for the Emperor in front of Base Headquarters. The Emperor reviewed the Honor Guard and then continue His tour of the Base with the Base Commander. I was part of the Honor Guard and the emotion of the past weeks seemed to be lifted off my shoulders as the Emperor passed my platoon. Then the Emperor, accompanied by the Base Commander, toured the rest of the base insuring complete United States support to the Emperor’s country and Eritrea.
The Emperor left the Base the next day and flew back to Addis Ababa to claim his Throne. Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, the Emperor, in accordance with Ethiopian Justice, arrested the leader and members of the coup. They were publicly hung in Addis Ababa showing the people His power as the Emperor. The hangings made international news and any international publication carrying the story was banned by the Emperor in Eritrea and Ethiopia.
