Preservation of American Hellenic History
A few examples of the warfare of each of the Greek United States Operational Groups (Greek/USOG) in Greece will be presented with reference to documents in the National Archives. The photographs are from other sources.
The documents are some of the top secret
records which were not available for study, not even to us, until the CIA released them to the public circa 1987.
Just a few are presented in the next pages, just to give a glimpse into the operations. There were many missions by our groups. The many missions were similar to the ones related in these pages.
You may recall from earlier in these memoirs that the Greek/USOG was founded in 1943, comprised of volunteers for hazardous duty with the OSS. The men had trained together in the Greek Battalion in Camp Carson, Colorado, with a few more weeks of additional training in OSS camps in Maryland.
The six groups of our unit split up in Egypt, January 1944. Three of our groups then operated in Yugoslavia while the other three went directly into Greece. After five months of combat by some in Yugoslavia, our six groups were reunited now in Greece where each group was operating autonomously.
Now, all six of our Greek-American groups of the Greek/USOG were operating behind enemy lines in Greece, disrupting Axis garrisons, convoys, and trains.
We did not discover the great extent of the damage these small groups inflicted on the Germans and Bulgarians in Greece (or on the Germans in Yugoslavia) until after our records were opened by the CIA circa 1987.
Unfortunately, our records remained top secret
until then.
SECRET Rank and Name Serial Number Captain Frank T. Blanas 0 439 595 Captain Ronald J. Darr** 01 103 126 Captain Robert Eichler 01 304 191 Captain Robert F. Houlihan 0 385 148 Captain George Verghis 01 285 970 1 Lt. Gilbert O. Bachman** 01 323 754 1 Lt. George Chumas 01 324 861 1 Lt. John Giannaris 01 322 908 1 Lt. Paul J. Mackey 01 323 720 1 Lt. Michael P. Manusos 01 295 397 1 Lt. Donald K. Mort** 01 323 867 1 Lt. George Papazoglou 01 301 355 1 Lt. Nicholas G. Pappas 01 324 571 1 Lt. Lon Payton 01 323 734 1 Lt. Paul B. Pope 01 324 052 1st Sgt.Theophanes G. Strimenos 20 414 760 T Sgt. Bernard. F. Brady 32 386 562 T Sgt. Richard J. Daigle, Jr. 18 149 108 T Sgt. Walter E. Gates 12 123 070 T Sgt. Apostolos G. Mihopoulos 38 128 096 T Sgt. Victor L. Miller 20 417 407 T Sgt. Peter M. Panagakos** 31 029 331 T Sgt. Alvin G. Psinas 31 029 331 T Sgt. Christopher T. Saris 19 003 723 T Sgt. James J. Zevitas** 20 113 119 T Sgt. John G. Glaros 14 013 841 S. Sgt. Thomas K. Andrews 36 027 611 S. Sgt. Jerry Apostolatos 32 817 292 S. Sgt. James M. Apostolopoulos 33 506 942 S. Sgt. Christ C. Christie 33 379 951 S. Sgt. Harry Fergadiotis 13 057 951 S. Sgt. Tom P. Georgalos 34 278 950 S. Sgt. George C. Karakitsos 34 174 117 S. Sgt. Mike C. Kountouris 34 278 950 S. Sgt. George C. Kypriotis 32 441 489 S. Sgt. Peter M. Laris 33 422 698 S. Sgt. Steve J. Mastros** 12 042 081 S. Sgt. Peter M. Moshopoulos 32 499 282 S. Sgt. Peter G. Paidas 35 744 322 S. Sgt. S. Sgt. Demetrios N. Polyzos 34 037 228 S. Sgt. Sam C. Poulos 37 660 445 S. Sgt. Lyle M. Schneeberger 32 369 686 S. Sgt. Anthony J. Serelis 31 204 025 S. Sgt. James A. Thomas 31 178 237 S. Sgt. James A. Tsolas 31 279 690 S. Sgt. Alex Vellis 32 505 436 Sgt. John Bichekas 31 355 359 Sgt. George G. Boosalis 37 471 752 Sgt. David J. Christ 36 756 164 Sgt. Nick H. Cominos 19 188 230 Sgt. George N. Efstathiou 12 077 039 Sgt. Steve J. Gineris** 36 649 614 Sgt. Minas Kavallieros 36 016 216 Sgt. George J. Papastrat 12 199 275 Sgt. Stephen J. Philippides 32 996 852 Sgt. Harry J. Pulos 16 152 405 Sgt. William J. Seremetis 35 222 806 Sgt. Eleftherios T. Tsantes 33 680 024 Sgt. John E. Tsouderos 37 548 911 Sgt. Steve Voulgarakis 12 061 442 Tec 4 Evangelo Agelopas 33 396 461 Tec 4 Joseph C. Ciras** 31 306 933 Tec 4 William S. Hortos** 36 548 324 Tec 4 James S. Kavourhas 32 533 679 Tec 4 James A. Laubs 33 506 802 Tec 4 Dean W. Lowdermilk 34 774 425 Tec 4 Arthur D. Papoulis 39 034 452 Tec 4 George J. Pappas 36 611 705 Tec 4 Armando Sanches 34 782 750 Tec 4 Thomas P. Soullas Tec 4 Spiros T. Taflambas 32 815 637 Tec 4 Joseph F. Zien** 36 727 205 Tec 4 James M. Zonas 32 028 428 Cpl. John Bitsikas 31 094 551 Cpl. Photios G. Doukas 15 104 267 Cpl. Tasos J. Gianiotis 32 484 043 Cpl. William Johnson 32 870 530 Cpl. John G. Katsikos 36 568 583 Cpl. Gust C. Kraras 34 371 707 Cpl. Louis G. Lenares 32 654 767 Cpl. Pete H. Lewis 35 593 655 Cpl. Anton Loukas 32 439 725 Cpl. Andrew S. Mousalimas 39 043 462 Cpl. Gust Mukanos 33 438 148 Cpl. Alexander P. Phillips 39 047 414 Cpl. Perecles P. Phillips 39 043 338 Cpl. Spero Psarakis 32 600 520 Cpl. Alexander Psomas 33 438 163 Cpl. Nick E. Ramoundos 32 508 855 Cpl. Hercules J. Sembrakis 31 308 522 Cpl. Paul Siapicas 32 532 269 Cpl. Costas A. Theodorou 32 619 859 Cpl. Paul J. Zarras 32 689 067 Tec 5 Arthur J. Agoritsas** 31 262 897 Tec 5 James K. Alexatos 32 497 920 Tec 5 Peter G. Anton 31 380 706 Tec 5 Harry J. Ameredes 35 745 417 Tec 5 Nick J. Amigdalitsis 34 447 338 Tec 5 Charles P. Antinopoulos** 33 679 468 Tec 5 James Antonakis 31 358 898 Tec 5 Anargyros Antonopoulos 33 679 468 Tec 5 Gust J. Babalis** 33 679 467 Tec 5 George Basiardanes 38 242 913 Tec 5 Constantin S. Bertakis 32 209 285 Tec 5 Aristides J. Boutselis** 31 260 445 Tec 5 John C. Cacavias 33 540 389 Tec 5 Stavros E. Caragian** 31 262 925 Tec 5 James Caroulis** 33 776 939 Tec 5 James T. Drake 32 898 023 Tec 5 Gus Eliopoulos 39 531 392 Tec 5 Dionisios Fotinatos 32 526 422 Tec 5 Demetrius Frangas 32 915 717 Tec 5 Paul N. Frangis 31 373 828 Tec 5 Alexander G. Gewlas 31 366 099 Tec 5 Andrew G. Grevis 34 739 720 Tec 5 Alexander Haritakis 12 088 378 Tec 5 George Hillias** 33 579 195 Tec 5 Angelo H. Kaleyias 32 244 233 Tec 5 George S. Kalliavas 31 132 008 Tec 5 Demetrios G Kamvouris 32 915 298 Tec 5 Andrew G. Karabatsos 39 916 705 Tec 5 George E. Katsaros 32 657 173 Tec 5 Alexander G. Katsias** 36 552 618 Tec 5 Constantinos S. Katsikis 32 556 126 Tec 5 George W. Karamas 32 809 280 Tec 5 Gust Kitakis** 36 572 947 Tec 5 Mihail G. Kondos 32 905 462 Tec 5 John M. Koutelis 32 631 706 Tec 5 Rudolph R. Kosisek** 37 479 604 Tec 5 Peter Kurchock** 33 485 653 Tec 5 George J. Kutulas 39 127 329 Tec 5 Trifon E. Lefakis 32 590 671 Tec 5 William Leanardos 37 017 040 Tec 5 Charles Liarakos** 31 153 623 Tec 5 Christ G. Lulas 32 670 023 Tec 5 Angelo M Lygizos 31 346 154 Tec 5 Lambros G. Makris 39 120 808 Tec 5 Theodore N. Makrides 12 199 472 Tec 5 Steve P. Marthiakis 32 709 856 Tec 5 William G. Mehilos 36 484 466 Tec 5 Harris R. Mill 32 983 010 Tec 5 John P. Minogianis 32 888 797 Tec 5 Gus Nanos** 36 740 045 Tec 5 Alekos X. Orkoulos 32 708 890 Tec 5 Gregory M. Pahules 34 547 104 Tec 5 Gus L. Palans 31 253 545 Tec 5 Nicholas D. Papapanu 32 472 361 Tec 5 James Papavassiliou 32 739 331 Tec 5 Spiridon B. Papayannakis 32 889 914 Tec 5 Peter C. Photis 33 500 484 Tec 5 Eleftherios J. Pipinias 32 827 806 Tec 5 John T. Pirpos 31 262 695 Tec 5 Bill Portolas 32 366 348 Tec 5 Georgios P. Portolos 32 366 345 Tec 5 Alexander C. Poryzees** 13 174 992 Tec 5 Theodore J. Poulakos** 16 457 233 Tec 5 Arris Poulos 32 975 619 Tec 5 Martin Redovian** 35 062 009 Tec 5 Norbert F. Rennie** 37 560 642 Tec 5 Konstantine A. Salaris** 31 307 253 Tec 5 Anthony G. Sampatacacus** 31 261 035 Tec 5 Steven F. Segeti, Jr.** 35 601 763 Tec 5 Harry Shiomos** 33 776 940 Tec 5 Christ Skiriotis 32 844 349 Tec 5 Peter Stamates 39 044 440 Tec 5 George J. Stathis 32 860 082 Tec 5 George S. Tiniakos 33 578 938 Tec 5 Michalis Tsirmulas 33 578 938 Tec 5 Gus Vellios 32 616 140 Tec 5 Sotirios G. Vakakas 31 095 870 Tec 5 Nicholas A. Vanikiotis 39 335 045 Tec 5 Constantine Zahariades 32 967 084
The other document tallies, but does not name, 15 officers and 159 enlisted men as troops who were in Greece continuously from 23 April to November, 1944.
The monument to be erected in Greece in honor of the Greek/USOGs will display the number of Greek/USOGs who landed in Egypt January 23, 1944, and who intended to serve in Greece.
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