On this Veterans Day, we salute the brave men and women who have served our country as we honor their courage, hard work, unyielding dedication and commitment to building a great nation for us all.
With deep admiration, we offer special recognition to some of our Founders and friends, past and present, who have served in the military. We are profoundly grateful for their bravery, sacrifice and their example of patriotism that will inspire many generations to come.
Thank you
Nicholas J. Bouras†
World War II
(1933 - 2013) Nicholas J. Bouras enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. By the end of 1945, he had attained the rank of Major, had flown forty-four combat missions in the European theater and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals and five Battle Stars.
John P. Calamos Sr
Vietnam War
John P. Calamos, Sr. joined the United States Air Force through the Illinois Tech ROTC program, earning his commission in 1963. By 1968, he was ordered to Vietnam to serve as a Forward Air Controller.
Michael Jaharis†
Korean War
(1928 - 2016) Shortly after his college graduation, Michael Jaharis was called to duty to serve in the US Army during the Korean War and was eventually deployed to Zell am See, Austria to help run the medical and pharmaceutical supply.
Michael Johnson
Korean War
Michael S. Johnson was drafted to serve in the Korean War from September 1950 to December 1952. In June 1951, Mr. Johnson was transferred to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP), headquartered at the Pentagon to assist with research.
Peter T. Kikis†
World War II
(1922 - 2013) Immediately upon graduating from Princeton a year early, Peter T. Kikis served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. As part of his service, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge under General George Patton and also liberated Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, earning four Battle Stars for his service in the War.
James H. Moshovitis
World War II
James H. Moshovitis was born and raised in Washington, DC. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman from 1943 to 1946. During that time, he was involved in action at Iwo Jima, Saipan, Okinawa, Guam, Tulagi and Manila Bay. Mr. Moshovitis was also on the first ship that arrived in Tokyo Bay on V-J Day.
John A. Payiavlas
Korean War
In 1951, John A. Payiavlas was drafted into the United States Army In 1952 and later transferred to the Greek Expeditionary Force Battalion where he was awarded the Commander’s Silver Cross of Valour, the highest military decoration of the Greek state.
Alex G. Spanos†
World War II
(1923 - 2018) Alex G. Spanos joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 at the age of eighteen. As part of the Third Air Force at Drew Field, Mr. Spanos was part of bomber aircraft training and locally based antisubmarine patrols of the eastern seaboard to secure the east coast from German submarines.
Peter Vlachos
Korean War
The son of a World War I veteran, our treasurer Peter Vlachos served during the Korean War in the 93rd Bomb Wing of the Air Force Strategic Air Command and flew with the 328th Bomb Squadron as a radar bombing and navigational technician.