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- Ελληνικά
Cyprus today paid its last respects to another hero who died fighting to defend our homeland in the black summer of 1974.
To Kostas Kokkas, 21 years old, who sacrificially helped to save the lives of soldiers of the 3rd Company of the 211 Infantry Battalion, who found themselves exposed and helpless on the rugged slopes of Trachona during the weekend of July 20-22.
At the funeral of the hero's remains, which was held today at the Apostle Luke's Church, in Orunda, on behalf of the State, a eulogy was delivered by the Head of Humanitarian Affairs for the Missing and Trapped, Ms. Anna Aristotelous, who then laid a wreath on behalf of the President of the Republic.
In her eulogy, Ms. Aristotelous said, among other things, "With feelings of reverence, awe, respect and pride, we are gathered here today to pay our last respects to the brave son of our country, Kostas Kokkas of Andreas and Helen, a brilliant son of Orunda.
To the hero who, as Mrs Aristotelous pointed out, "belongs to a generation of heroes who fought the black summer of 1974 with the few means at their disposal to defend what was most precious. Our freedom", adding that "at the same time, there is no more hopeful and optimistic message for the future of our people than the heroism of a generation to which Kostas Kokkas belongs and which fought with self-sacrifice for the freedom of our country.
Heroism, daring and self-sacrifice are not general and vague concepts, but acts coming from brave, bright and blessed people. Of such a man, a hero, the cycle of tragic history closes today. Kostas Kokkas, the hero of Orunda, who fell for the faith and the Fatherland on the black July of 1974."
He added that Kostas Kokkas was the child of a large family, with a worker father. He joined the National Guard in 1971 and after completing his military service, he returned to Orunda and took a job as an electrician at the Greek Mining Company in Mitsero.
As Ms. Aristotelous said: "Kostas, that black morning, heard about the terrible news of the invasion on the radio. At the country's call for conscription, Kostas declared himself present. After bidding farewell to his family, he got into his car and drove to the nearest reserve enlistment point, the 23rd Medium Tank Division in Kokkinotrimithia. From there, together with other reservists, they went to the BMH in Nicosia and after taking weapons, they continued to Elenio to receive instructions.
Their lot was to be transferred to Trachona, where the 211 Infantry Battalion was based, which had under its zone of responsibility an area extending from Omorphita to the North Pole of Kaimaklion. Kostas was stationed and manned outpost 1096 at the location "Vounari", known as the pigsty. It was in this area that, in those tragic days, some of the cruelest scenes of the war unfolded. Scenes that cannot be forgotten, no matter how many years pass.
Since 20 July, the soldiers of the 211th were under constant attack from Turkish ground forces and heavy fire from the Turkish air force, while they were also in the sniper range. The third company, which Kostas joined, resisted and did not retreat. He held his positions tooth and nail, showing unparalleled bravery, valour and courage.
On 22 July an armistice was announced. Kostas Kokkas and his comrades, who had successfully defended Outpost 1096, could now breathe a sigh of relief. Only the truce did not last long. The Turkish troops violated it, launching new attacks, this time with mortars. The uneasy calm was followed by the cries of the Turkish invaders who launched a coordinated attack to take over the outposts. The outnumbered and well-armed invaders were only a few meters away. With their machine guns at their disposal they fired non-stop and threw grenades, and were supported by tanks and other heavy weapons. The outpost was now surrounded, the fight uneven, the battle seemed lost.
In the chaos they were instructed to regroup. The escape side is chosen and one by one they attempt an exit under cover of their comrades' fire, with fire and movement. This seems to have been the last heroic act of Kostas Kokka. With his rifle he attempts to cover the rear of his fellow fighters.
In those dramatic hours of July 22, heroism and bravery abounded. Kostas and his fellow fighters expend every ounce of their strength before offering what was most precious to them in the sacred but unequal struggle for the freedom of their homeland.
The outpost was captured by Turkish troops. At the roll call of the third company of the 211 Infantry Battalion the next day, Kostas Kokkas and other soldiers were absent."
Referring to the drama of the hero's family, the Head of Humanitarian Affairs for the Missing and Trapped said: "From then on, the hero's family's Golgotha began, desperately searching for a piece of information, a clue that would reveal what happened to him. Kostas' parents passed away after the Turkish invasion, in the grief of not knowing the fate of their child.
It took some 47 years to identify a small bone from the metacarpal of the palm of the hero of Cypriot freedom, as there was a huge disturbance in the wider area of Trachona," said Ms Aristotelous, who stressed that Kostas Kokkas is an example of bravery, showing us all how sacred freedom is and why the struggle should be unceasing.
She added: "Before Kostas Kokkas, we reverently bow our heads and are called to draw lessons, draw strength and be inspired. Faithful to the call of his country, after being drafted he enlisted without a second thought, in battle he did not retreat a single step, he fought bravely with the meager means at his disposal, but with virtue and daring against an all-powerful and powerful enemy. That day at Outpost 1096, our Kostas, the brave lad, fought to his last moment so that his fellow soldiers and comrades would have time to regroup. They saw him fighting, in front, stiff and proud."
Finally, Ms. Aristotelous stressed that the heroism of Kostas Kokkas strengthens our will as a state to ensure that the sacrifice of our heroes is vindicated.
(PM/AF/SX)
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