03-14-2003, 12:19 AM
Phuh Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-???? is considered by some to be the most under appreciated military man in history. Many have never heard of his contributions to modern warfare, possibly due to low literacy rates in those days, and possibly due to more sinister forces. Whence this Phuh Khen, and why his importance?
A 'Khen' was a subordinate to a 'Khan' (pronounced 'con') in the military structure of the Mongol Hoards. Khan is also Turkish for 'Leader.' Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his subordinate commanders, his various Khen.
'Khen' is generally held to derive from an archaic Turkic root, but there is no analogous word in English that captures its real meaning. Roughly translated, it means, 'One who will do the impossible while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly.' Such imprecise translation do not forbid that we appreciate how vital to Ghengis Khan's success his Khen were.
Phuh Khen was one of nine Khen who headed the divisions, or rather, various collections of warriors in groups of hoards, as they were known, in the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols' assault on the Turkestan
city of Turkostahnd, which had been occupied by the Barbarian hill tribes known variously as Kendals or Bohikahns, depending on who wrote the account. These fierce warriors were well armed and the city was well fortified.
Turkostahnd was protected by huge walls and the hoards were at a standoff with the Bohikahns, as the city was well stocked and a seige did not appear to be winnable due to the mobile nature of Mongol warfare, and the need for massive forage to keep the horses, mules, goats, and other livestock fit and fed.
The Khan assembled his Khen and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Turkostahnd. He apparently wanted to avoid "group think" or other such phenomenon that plagued military staffs, even in antiquity. Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All nine divisions of Khen submitted their plans, which they had discussed only in their own divisions. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7, and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset. Three executions happened on the spot, and three divisions went looking for new Khen to lead them. Volunteers were in short supply.
It was with great perspiration that Phuh Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced that this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval, as well as orders for all Khen to emulate the AV 8 plan. However, due to the usual fog of war, only Phuh Khen's hoards hit the Line of Departure and began the assault on time.
The plan was beautifully simple. Phuh Khen arm his hoards to the teeth, loaded them into catapults, and hurled them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hoards were cheap, and surprise, that critical part of any successful assault, was complete. Those that survived the flight engaged the enemy in close combat, and those who did not caused considerable damage with their flailing, heavily armed bodies.
The initial assault was a huge success, as it allowed the gate to be opened from within, whereupon the other 8 Khen, 5 old and 3 new, led their hoards in. The Bohikahns were defeated and the city recaptured. From that day on, whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, "Send some of the Phuh Khen AV 8ers". This is believed to be the true origin of the term Aviator (AV 8er). Latin and Greek, says Webster? No, Turkish!
Phu Khen's AV 8ers were, by most accounts, an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on a Phu Khen AV 8, or a Phuh Khen Aviator.
Denied == and perhaps rightfully so from the point of view of the infantry == his place in history, Phu Khen has been, none the less, immortalized in prose.
As the great poet Norman Lear never once wrote:
"There once was a man named Phuh Khen,
whose breakfast was whiskey and gin,
when e'er he'd fly,
he'd give out his war cry
Bend over, here it comes again!"
*'Bend Over' was apparently the command to the Catapult crew to put tension on their siege engine*
Since those days of antiquity, it is considered both elite and and an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Most wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of such a daredevil part of the profession of arms. You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, regarding to 'those Phuh Khen Aviators' in many a foxhole, hangar, and ship's bowel. They do not let such mutterings bother them. As with any elite group, they go largely misunderstood, prohibited by their apathy from explaining themselves. They are expected to always live down to the reputation of the original Phuh Khen Aviators, a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, and some say unhindered by progress.
In WW II, before the Army crossed the channel to invade and liberate France, hordes of young Phuh Khen Aviators went on near suicide missions, deep into Axis occupied Europe, seeking to do damage to the enemy so that their brothers in arms could break into Fortress Europe.
When the First Marine Division fought its way back from Frozen Chosin, they call upon squadrons of Phuh Khen Aviators for fire support against seven Chinese Divisions.
When the Argentines fought valiantly yet vainly in the Falklands in 1982, they sent forth their bravest men to challenge the Royal Navy: they sent their Phuh Khen Aviators.
As recently as 1998, no less a national leader than President Clinton, upon hearing that he needed a quick response to Iraqi transgressions in the Southern No Fly Zone, ordered his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Shelton, to:
"Send out a boatful of them Phuh Khen Aviators, and send them now!"
Some things never change. :)
A 'Khen' was a subordinate to a 'Khan' (pronounced 'con') in the military structure of the Mongol Hoards. Khan is also Turkish for 'Leader.' Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his subordinate commanders, his various Khen.
'Khen' is generally held to derive from an archaic Turkic root, but there is no analogous word in English that captures its real meaning. Roughly translated, it means, 'One who will do the impossible while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly.' Such imprecise translation do not forbid that we appreciate how vital to Ghengis Khan's success his Khen were.
Phuh Khen was one of nine Khen who headed the divisions, or rather, various collections of warriors in groups of hoards, as they were known, in the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols' assault on the Turkestan
city of Turkostahnd, which had been occupied by the Barbarian hill tribes known variously as Kendals or Bohikahns, depending on who wrote the account. These fierce warriors were well armed and the city was well fortified.
Turkostahnd was protected by huge walls and the hoards were at a standoff with the Bohikahns, as the city was well stocked and a seige did not appear to be winnable due to the mobile nature of Mongol warfare, and the need for massive forage to keep the horses, mules, goats, and other livestock fit and fed.
The Khan assembled his Khen and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Turkostahnd. He apparently wanted to avoid "group think" or other such phenomenon that plagued military staffs, even in antiquity. Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All nine divisions of Khen submitted their plans, which they had discussed only in their own divisions. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7, and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset. Three executions happened on the spot, and three divisions went looking for new Khen to lead them. Volunteers were in short supply.
It was with great perspiration that Phuh Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced that this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval, as well as orders for all Khen to emulate the AV 8 plan. However, due to the usual fog of war, only Phuh Khen's hoards hit the Line of Departure and began the assault on time.
The plan was beautifully simple. Phuh Khen arm his hoards to the teeth, loaded them into catapults, and hurled them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hoards were cheap, and surprise, that critical part of any successful assault, was complete. Those that survived the flight engaged the enemy in close combat, and those who did not caused considerable damage with their flailing, heavily armed bodies.
The initial assault was a huge success, as it allowed the gate to be opened from within, whereupon the other 8 Khen, 5 old and 3 new, led their hoards in. The Bohikahns were defeated and the city recaptured. From that day on, whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, "Send some of the Phuh Khen AV 8ers". This is believed to be the true origin of the term Aviator (AV 8er). Latin and Greek, says Webster? No, Turkish!
Phu Khen's AV 8ers were, by most accounts, an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on a Phu Khen AV 8, or a Phuh Khen Aviator.
Denied == and perhaps rightfully so from the point of view of the infantry == his place in history, Phu Khen has been, none the less, immortalized in prose.
As the great poet Norman Lear never once wrote:
"There once was a man named Phuh Khen,
whose breakfast was whiskey and gin,
when e'er he'd fly,
he'd give out his war cry
Bend over, here it comes again!"
*'Bend Over' was apparently the command to the Catapult crew to put tension on their siege engine*
Since those days of antiquity, it is considered both elite and and an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Most wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of such a daredevil part of the profession of arms. You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, regarding to 'those Phuh Khen Aviators' in many a foxhole, hangar, and ship's bowel. They do not let such mutterings bother them. As with any elite group, they go largely misunderstood, prohibited by their apathy from explaining themselves. They are expected to always live down to the reputation of the original Phuh Khen Aviators, a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, and some say unhindered by progress.
In WW II, before the Army crossed the channel to invade and liberate France, hordes of young Phuh Khen Aviators went on near suicide missions, deep into Axis occupied Europe, seeking to do damage to the enemy so that their brothers in arms could break into Fortress Europe.
When the First Marine Division fought its way back from Frozen Chosin, they call upon squadrons of Phuh Khen Aviators for fire support against seven Chinese Divisions.
When the Argentines fought valiantly yet vainly in the Falklands in 1982, they sent forth their bravest men to challenge the Royal Navy: they sent their Phuh Khen Aviators.
As recently as 1998, no less a national leader than President Clinton, upon hearing that he needed a quick response to Iraqi transgressions in the Southern No Fly Zone, ordered his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Shelton, to:
"Send out a boatful of them Phuh Khen Aviators, and send them now!"
Some things never change. :)
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
