Press Releases 2008
U.S. Armed Forces Day Honors
Athens (September 24, 2008) -- Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard hosted a reception at his residence last night, September 23, to mark U.S. Armed Forces Day, in the presence of Greek Minister of Defense Evangelos Meimarakis. In a special ceremony, a Bronze Star was posthumously awarded to Sergeant John E. Tsouderos, a Greek-American hero of World War II. The medal was received by his son Emmanuel Tsouderos. High honors were also presented to three Greek military officers.
Ambassador
Speckhard noted: "We are here tonight to honor the men and women of
all the armed forces of our friends and allies." In his remarks,
Minister Meimarakis referred to the important role the U.S. military
plays internationally for peacekeeping purposes.
Sergeant John
E. Tsouderos served in the World War II-era 122nd Infantry Battalion,
better known as the U.S. Army's "Greek Battalion." Those honored were
General Georgios Bardamaskos (Retired), who received the Presidential
Legion of Merit medal, as did Hellenic Air Force Colonel Aris Fitilis,
and Brigadier General Athanassios Papanikolaou (Retired), who received
the Meritorious Service Medal. The latter two previously served as
Greece's Air Force attaches in Washington, DC.
U.S. Armed Forces Day was established in 1950 by President Harry S. Truman to symbolize the unification of the America's soldiers, sailors, and airmen under a single Department of Defense