GREEKS IN WORLD WAR II

History - Language - CultureΘέματαΑμερικήΕκκλησία The “Greek Battalion”: The 122nd Infantry Battalion at Camp Carson By Helleniscope -May 24, 20267296 ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team In the dark years of World War II, when Greece lay under brutal Axis occupation and Europe burned in conflict, a remarkable military unit was formed in the United States: the 122nd Infantry Battalion, forever remembered as “The Greek Battalion.” This extraordinary battalion was activated in January 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and trained at Camp Carson — today known as Fort Carson — in the shadow of Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountains. The battalion’s name carried deep symbolism. “122nd” commemorated the 122 years since Greek independence from Ottoman rule in 1821. It was more than a military designation; it was a tribute to the long struggle for freedom that united Greeks and Americans alike. A Battalion Born from Two Homelands The unit was composed of Greek Americans and Greek nationals, many of whom were not yet American citizens. Some were sons of immigrants born in cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York. Others had fled occupied Greece and arrived in America determined to continue the fight against fascism. Despite differences in language and upbringing, they quickly forged a brotherhood. Greek nationals taught the younger Americans Greek songs, dances, and traditions, while the Americans helped their comrades improve their English. Leading them was Major Peter D. Clainos, the first Greek-born graduate of West Point. Born in Sparta, Greece, Clainos immigrated to the United States as a child and rose to become one of the most respected Greek-American officers of the war. Training at Camp Carson At Camp Carson, the men endured months of grueling infantry training. The mountainous Colorado terrain resembled parts of Greece, preparing them physically and mentally for the dangerous missions many would later undertake behind enemy lines. One of the most historic moments in the battalion’s short existence came during its activation ceremonies. The soldiers marched before President Roosevelt and General George C. Marshall carrying both the American and Greek flags — an extraordinarily rare honor for a foreign national flag on American soil during a U.S. military review. https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/sGAZ-0wI3t9qulyGQXtMHasqh0OZOD-QChgxU9ZkBtAe8QPAIxWgpX9vONtYTJ_axLMBbUIBfaEO6CP-skQsJVMwDd52IwUvqcZcDez2FimYNJ1W9_c9Efp6fVJ3-plFJcTuUMQX2QmZwTwjCkq505TEGB2sAoD8bj48v2wlufZMrJ4A7zPao0QqT6E-DD8h?purpose=fullsize Official wartime photographs captured the battalion passing the reviewing stand and assembling beneath the Colorado sky during its activation ceremonies. Volunteers for a Near-Suicidal Mission By mid-1943, officers from the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) — the precursor to the CIA — arrived at Camp Carson with a request. They needed volunteers for covert operations behind enemy lines in occupied Greece and the Balkans. The missions would involve sabotage, guerrilla warfare, intelligence gathering, and direct cooperation with resistance fighters. The estimated casualty rate was said to be as high as 95 percent. Major Clainos later recalled that when volunteers were requested, every man in the battalion stepped forward. Initially the OSS sought only 15 volunteers; after reviewing the battalion, they increased the number to 200. One hundred sixty members ultimately joined the elite Greek/US Operational Group, trained as commandos for dangerous operations deep inside occupied territory. Behind Enemy Lines in Greece In 1944, these OSS commandos infiltrated Greece by parachute or by small boats under cover of darkness. Once inside the country, they joined the Greek Resistance fighters known as the Antartes. Working with British special operations forces and local resistance networks, they sabotaged German supply lines and disrupted the Wehrmacht’s retreat from Greece. Bridges were blown apart. Railroad tracks were destroyed. Convoys and trains were ambushed. Communications were severed. https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/4O5_szjfRFYK6zdddKKH7nfQD-hytHvHl8rUdHfjHzyucbMyQ-NJbvZ0EohHPGm4SznjSKJo6DT6avuMqlADzHoHTE5ReslrRB_eXO-zuzzJQNS8F8Bh4nn7QbWMLbPYe-kWSan1NRQ1g0-mxulpNd6nScfwkBnBPNG-7yTlnufPfMpI2y6RwCjyUVAq343R?purpose=fullsize https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/pVcYXcXbxGHRIReJmjEhBFXdEGzvkCnkUAUWM4n-k-s6yaURmIwC887BSNTif2xPWB5t2QKdJ3NpmSroNVylg5tpKGawI4VNx6X0GrfWibt415qKEEgWOTbLyxJFH9WCFlm64wG_GE7tF-Y1Pbp4rkV6paOPxUM0d4OvbmQR2qi9Uz8mP-IW2hEliCJSCJnN?purpose=fullsize These operations significantly aided Allied efforts in the Balkans and contributed to the liberation of Greece from Nazi occupation. Much of the Operational Group’s history remained classified for decades after the war. According to historians, records concerning these ethnic OSS units were sealed until the late 1980s. A Legacy of Courage Although the 122nd Infantry Battalion existed for only a short time as a unified unit, its legacy became legendary among Greek Americans and military historians alike. The men of the “Greek Battalion” embodied two patriotic traditions simultaneously: loyalty to the United States, and devotion to the liberation of their ancestral homeland. Many never returned home. Others carried the memories of occupied Greece, covert warfare, and fallen comrades for the rest of their lives. Today, during Memorial Day, their story reminds us that the Allied victory in World War II was built not only by massive armies, but also by small groups of courageous volunteers willing to risk everything for freedom. The soldiers of the Greek Battalion carried two flags — but fought for one shared cause: liberty. May 24, 2026, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.