[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2233-E2234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE VETERANS OF OSS GREEK OPERATIONS GROUP II ON THE 
      OCCASION OF THEIR RECEIVING THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 
brave men of the Office of Strategic Services' Greek Operations Group 
II who fought to liberate occupied Greece during World War II. This 
month, these heroes are being awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor 
for their service in defense of freedom.
  In February 1943 at the height of World War II, the Greek government 
in exile sought help from the United States for Andartes, the Greek 
Resistance against Nazi occupation. In response, the Office of 
Strategic Services (OSS, the forerunner of the CIA) formed top-secret 
Greek Operations Groups (OGs) from the 122nd Infantry Battalion. After 
undergoing rigorous training, almost 200 largely Greek-born or 
Hellenic-American soldiers launched their secret mission, undeterred by 
warnings that most would not likely survive the perilous fighting 
behind enemy lines. Chosen for their fluency or near-fluency in Greek, 
their physical fitness and ability to endure arduous service in rugged 
mountain terrain, and their intense motivation to oust the Nazi 
occupiers from the land of their ancestors, these teams were inserted 
behind enemy lines. From April to September 1944, the men of OG II 
fought alongside the Greek Resistance, delaying and harassing the Nazi 
withdrawal, eliminating enemy troops, and destroying their equipment in 
order to weaken the final defense of Germany against the Allies.
  Operations Group II, led by Lt. John Giannaris, operating chiefly out 
of the tiny remote village of Pappas, conducted military operations 
primarily against the railroad in the mountains between Lamia and 
Domokos. During a four-month period the team participated in 14 
missions during which they destroyed three locomotives and 31 railway 
cars, blew up 7,400 yards of rail line, and inflicted 675 casualties on 
the enemy. On September 8th, 1944, as the group approached a heavily 
patrolled area, it came under point-blank enemy machine gun fire.
  OG II member Michalis Tsirmulas was hit. Under a withering assault, 
Lt. Giannaris ordered a withdrawal while himself crawling to aid 
Tsirmulas, only to learn he had been killed. After being severely 
wounded, Lt. Giannaris narrowly escaped capture, passing within earshot 
of German soldiers hunting him down. He was found by two local 
shepherdesses, who cared for him and contacted his men. In a daring 
daylight escape, Lt. Giannaris was spirited to safety in a British 
aircraft.
  The story of the Greek-American OGs was highly classified for more 
than 40 years. The full account of these soldiers and their 
accomplishments was unknown even to the surviving participants. After 
fighting in Greece ended, most of them went on to other assignments in 
Europe and Asia. They returned home never knowing the enormous impact 
their mission had on events in Greece. Most never spoke of their 
experience with the O.S.S for many years, even to their families. Many 
years later, Giannaris, since promoted to Captain, recommended his men 
for an award. The Defense Department agreed and authorized the Bronze 
Star Medal for valor.
  Recently, a search began for survivors and descendants of the 
deceased of OSS Greek OG II, undertaken by Dr. Robert Perdue, OG II 
historian and a retired agricultural research scientist. This month at 
a ceremony in Astoria, New York, the 22 enlisted men of OG II will be 
honored at a ceremony. One surviving enlisted member of OG II will 
attend as will families of six deceased members of the Group,

[[Page E2234]]

with all receiving the Bronze Star Medal from Captain Giannaris.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the 
extraordinary bravery and devotion to their country of the courageous 
men of OSS Greek Operations Goup II on the occasion of their receiving 
the Bronze Star Medal for Valor.

                          ____________________