The Forgotten hero: Captain Jim Chankalian

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People of Ar
Jan 18 2014


The Forgotten hero: Captain Jim Chankalian



Captain Jim Chankalian was promoted to captain in the U.S. Army for
his service during the Spanish-American War in 1898, and later with
great success and honors he participated in the Armenian liberation
movement. Afterwards he served in the Democratic Liberal Party of
America, AGBU and the Armenian Church, until his death on May 10,
1947.

Born in Tigranakert as Bedros Chankalian, James (Jim) and his family
emigrated to the United States. He graduated from an American high
school and then entered the military academy to become an officer in
the United States.

Being an experienced soldier of the U.S. Army, Chankalian also became
a well-known figure in the Armenian community of New York. After
retiring with the rank of captain, he was offered an important
position in the company `Powers & Co.' and build a comfortable life
for himself. In 1915, the Reformed party Gnchak, in collaboration with
the Regional Committee of the Constitutional Democratic Party
(Ramgavar) of the United States requested to send Jim Chankaliana with
a special mission, first to the Caucasus, and then to Van, to fight
for the Armenian liberation movement. Chankalian gladly accepted the
offer, giving up his high position and a comfortable life in America.
Taking with him a group of experienced volunteers who came from
Western Armenia, he reached Van at the appointed time and was met by
the heroic leader of Armenian self-defense forces, Armenak Egaryan.

After consultation with Egaryan, Chankalian put his extensive military
experience in service of the heroic struggle of the Armenians of Van
and became the adviser to Egaryan. As such he became instrumental in
the formation of the Yerkrapah regiment (Defenders of the Motherland)
and was successful in the accomplishment of his military mission.

In 1917 he returned to the U.S., but as soon as he learned about the
plan of formation of the Armenian Legion in France, he decided to
join. The legion was to go to Palestinian front to fight on the side
of the Allies (France, England, Russia) against the German and Turkish
troops. Chankalian who enjoyed unconditional respect and reverence of
the American-Armenian community and the Armenian political parties,
was appointed head of the detachment, consisting of US-Armenian
volunteers. On July 9, 1917 Chankalian along with the volunteers,
under his leadership, boarded a French ship and headed to Marseille.
>From there he went to Port Said and joined the Legion. They were
transported to Cyprus and met with the rest of the volunteers of the
French Foreign Legion.

By order of General Allenby, commander of the united forces of the
Allied Powers in the Middle Eastern front, on September 14, 1918 the
Armenian volunteers were transported to Palestine, where five days
later, they went on the attack against German and Turkish forces in
Arar. With minimal losses they have achieved a glorious victory in the
Battle of the Arar.

As the World War I ended in November 1918, the Armenian volunteers
were transferred to the Palestinian front in Beirut. From there, the
British ships took them in groups, through Alexandretta (Iskenderun)
to the mountains and plains of Cilicia. Legionnaires were welcomed in
Adana with the Armenian tricolor flags. Turks were already demoralized
an the Armenian Legion was about to take all of Cilicia under their
control. Implementation of the plan to establish an autonomous and
independent Armenian Cilicia was undertaken under the guidance of
Mihran Damadyan. In order to bring this plan to fruition, it was
necessary to gather a strong fighting force, which was about to become
a reality, with such battle-tested heroes as Chankalian, Andranik,
Egaryan, Esai Yagubyan etc. However, the Allied Powers had other
intentions. They have prevented the arrival of Andranik, Egaryana and
others in Cilicia, ending the prospects of Armenian success in
Cilicia.

Disappointed with the vanishing dream to create an independent
Cilicia, Chankalian returned to the United States, with his
achievements recorded in the history of the Armenian liberation
struggle. Later, as one of the leading figures of the Democratic
Liberal Party of America, Chankalian organized fundraising efforts in
support of the first Republic of Armenia.

Chankalian continued his activities for the benefit of the motherland.
He became the driving force behind the formation of the
American-Armenian National Council and served as its president. He
also became the first president of the Central Committee of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and devoted his time to the
service of the Armenian Church. This great patriot, endowed with
exceptional military skill, died in New York in 1947 at an advanced
age, leaving behind a great legacy of unforgettable service for his
people.

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