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Greek / American Operational Group Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
Memoirs of World War 2

Yugoslavia

Congratulations on our "Maiden Voyage"

March 20 during reveille Lt. Col. Churchill joined us and complimented our unit for an excellent job on our "maiden voyage."

Solta was the first of many raids and reconnaissance in which our groups participated during our stay on Vis. Immediately after the Solta raid, unfortunately, the Luftwaffe which had an airfield on Split began bombing Vis; either for retribution or to reduce the effect of the combat troops.

Reflecting on our first combat mission, the fear factor did not hit me until we returned to Vis. Our missions, unlike regular infantry, are hit and run and fortunately we do not stay on the line and wait and wait and have time to think. The smells and stench of combat are profound. Fires, bombings, artillery shells, the wounded and killed ~ all are smells that are unforgettable.

Young people have asked me if contemporary movies and TV shows such as Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan are realistic. I respond that no movie or TV show can be realistic because it cannot capture the deaths, the sounds of wounded soldiers, and the terrible smell and stench of combat. I was surprised at my callous feelings for the first dead German that I may or may not have killed. The bottom line, combat is not a game; it is a deadly serious business. I often wondered how many of these raids I would survive. But most men in combat believe they would always survive no matter how difficult the circumstances.

American Operational Group Personnel on Solta
March 18-19, 1944

Officers

Major P.G. Lovell
Captain W.G. Bliden
Captain A W. Keer
Lieutenant W F.Rutkowski
Lieutenant C. B. Butler
Lieutenant C. E. Bathory
Lieutenant G. Milkovich
Lieutenant N. P. Paledes
Lieutenant P. B. Pope

Captain R. R. Quay
Captain R. F.Houlihan
Captain G. C. Markoutsos
Captain L. B. Prus
Lieutenant W. McConnell
Lieutenant G. Chumas
Lieutenant M. P. Manusos
Lieutenant N. Pappas
Lieutenant L. W. MacCrary

Enlisted Men

First Sergeant Theo S. Strimenos
T/Sgt. A.G. Psinas
T/Sgt. E F. Penak
T/Sgt. G.J. Carkonie
S/Sgt. A. G. Mihopoulos
S/Sgt. T. K. Andrews
S/Sgt. L. A. Kasabucki
Sgt. J. Tsolas
Sgt. D. N. Polyzos
Sgt. Nick H. Cominos
Sgt. C. C. Christie
Sgt. R. Georges
T/Sgt. R. J. Daicel, Jr.
T/4 A. J. Snyder
T/4 E. Angelopoulos
T/4 J. Zonas
Cpl. F. T. Blackwood
Cpl. N. Fehern
Cpl. G. J. Katsikos
Cpl. S. J. Carles
Cpl. George Kallitsis
Cpl. A. P. Phillips
Cpl. P. P. Phillips
Cpl. S. Voulgarakis
Cpl. A Loukas
T/5 A. Smoller
T/5 C. Robertson
T/5 J. Simon
T/5 W. Evans
T/5 G. Houdek
T/5 W. Lovrich
T/5 A. E. Lakovic
T/5 A. Radak
T/5 J. Helinski
T/5 Rozinski
T/5 J. Banchiu
T/5 S. Caldarea
T/5 T. Kubachka
T/5 J.Chochola
T/5 T. S. Kastanea
T/5 W G. Mehilos
T/5 C. D. Karatsikis
T/5 A. P. Bugay
T/5 R R.G. Kelso
T/5 J. E. Tsangaris
T/5 J. C. Cacavias
T/5 T. P. Soullas
T/5 G. Eliopoulos
T/5 G. A. Nickolopoulos
T/5 S. B. Papayannakis
T/5 E. Tsantes
T/5 N. A. Vanikiotis
T/5 W. Z. Spriopoulos
T/5 A. G. Karabatsos
T/5 B. G. Kirtatas
T/5 D. Fotinatos
T/5 M.J. Amigdalitsis
T/5 J. S. Kavourhas
T/5 J. A. Laubs
T/5 A. Haritakis
T/5 S. G. Vakakas
T/5 G. P. Portolas
T/5 H. R Mill
T/5 N.D. Papapanu
Pfc. G. Lorenz

T/Sgt. M. Jozza
T/Sgt. J. G. Glaros
S/Sgt. M. F. Sasko
S/Sgt. L. J. Arsenault
S/Sgt. E. Della
S/Sgt. J. Pastilock
Sgt. L. Gerombey
Sgt. G. C. Karakitsos
Sgt. M. S. Sapna
Sgt. G. Petemezas
Sgt. T. P. Georgalos
Sgt. P.M. Laris
T/4 O.E. Gutman
T/4 E.N. Zaphiris
Cpl. J. Palguta
Cpl. D. Marciciak
Cpl. P. Siapicas
Cpl. N. A. Angelos
Cpl. C. Kyriakos
Cpl. P. E. Lewis
Cpl. A. S. Mousalimas
Cpl. P. C. Doukas
Cpl. A Loukas
Cpl. N. E. Ramoundos
T/5 A. Budraitis
T/5 Horwath, Jr.
T/5 J. Czebely
T/5 J.J. Pekar
T/5 F.J. Youhouse
T/5 Zonenberg
T/5 N. Lovinsky
T/5 S. Gotch
T/5 Laszcych
T/5 J. P Lynch
T/5 J. J. Sersen
T/5 W. M. Kirn
T/5 G. lvanco
T/5 A. L. George
T/5 N. W. Mitchel
T/5 J. Kotula
T/5 T. Turean
T/5 H. Ginis
T/5 T. Lefakis
T/5 G. T. Basiardanes
T/5 S. D. Piertos
T/5 P. G. Anton
T/5 G. J. Pappas
T/5 A. Poulos
T/5 N. J. Vardales
T/5 D. J. Christ
T/5 P. Hatzivassiliou
T/5 J. Antonakis
T/5 G.S. Kalliavas
T/5 J.M. Koutelis
T/5 B. Economou
T/5 W. D. Georges
T/5 S. D. Drakos
T/5 D G. Kamvouris
T/5 B. Portolas
T/5 L. C Makris
T/5 C. G. Lulas
T/5 E.J. Pipinias


Note

  • U.S. National Archives, History of Operations in Yugoslavia, pp. 14-15 (report filed at Headquarters, Co. C, 2671st Special Reconnaisance Battalion, APO 512, U.S. Army, 20 November1944).


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