Veteran’s Corner

Veteran’s Corner GREECE TO AMERICA

By Sandra McKinney

We know him as Harry Athens, but he was born in 1945 as Charalambos Athanassopoulos in Fragista, Greece. Although WWII was over, there was still great unrest in Greece in 1955. The Greek Civil War was not a clash of good vs. evil, but one of two extreme belief systems that could not co-exist, with the majority of the Greek people trapped somewhere in the middle. It was a battle of ideologies. It was a difficult time in Greece; the Germans had destroyed so much and people were living in terrible conditions. Konstatinos Athanassopoulos had begun to make plans to move his family to Australia to escape the ravages of war and the threat of communism. Konstatinos and his wife Chrysanthe had five small children, the oldest being Charalambos (Harry). They wanted a better life for their family. Harry’s grandfather had been in Turkey working as a spy for

Greece. He wanted to get out too before being killed. Aunt Pareskavula Athanassopoulos, who lived in the United States in San Diego, California, visited the family in Greece. She saw the conditions in which the family was living. The Germans had destroyed almost all their possessions. Uncle Yiorgos (George) had attended college in Turkey and now lived in the United States. When Aunt Pareskavula returned to the U.S., she contacted Yiorgos and told him they must get the family out of Greece and to America. Uncle Yiorgos had been in the United States for several years. He was with a native Laguna woman named Marie Aragon. They had a home in Paraje, New Mexico and also later in Gallup. While still living in Greece: Harry on his Grandpa Dimitris After learning of the plight of Yiorgos’ family, Athanassopoulos’ lap, sister Voula on Mom Chrysanthe Marie agreed to sponsor the family to immiAthanassopoulos’ lap, and Dad Konstatinos Athanassopoulos. grate to the U.S. This changed the plans of Konstatinos to move the family to Australia. It was more logical to move to the United States where other family was already living. Chrysanthe was pregnant and had a small toddler, Styliania. She was not able to make the move with the rest of her family due to her pregnancy. Konstatinos made the trip by ship with his young children: Harry, Areti, Voula, Orunia, and little Yiorgos (George), named after his uncle. They arrived in New York, and then traveled to Chicago, where they boarded the Super Chief which took them to Gallup, New Mexico, arriving January 4, 1956. Chrysanthe stayed behind in Greece and one year after giving birth to another little girl, Elainia, the three followed the rest of the family to Gallup.

That was the beginning of life in Gallup, New Mexico for Charalambos Athanassopoulos. “To make life easier in the U.S., my name was shortened to Harry Athens; though I never changed it legally,” Harry said with a grin.

Harry had completed 4th grade in Greece. It was challenging to start school in Gallup, but he learned English and continued his education here and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1966. Harry explains, “After graduation, so many were going out to San Francisco, but I went to New York to once again visit the Big City. From New York, I traveled with a group back to Greece and then returned into Canada to go to Expo ’67 in Montreal. You see, I was a Permanent Resident of the United States and I had a Green Card stating such. I had no trouble getting into Canada. After visiting there for a few days, it was time to return to the United States and my family in New Mexico.” Harry gives a scowl and says, “That is when the trouble started! Back in the 60s, we young men were given a Selective Service (draft) card, and we were supposed to carry it at all times. But, you see, I had not packed my draft card for Harry to- all my traveling. When we got to the border crossing to enter the U.S., they demanded day, proudly all my papers. When I could not produce the U.S. draft card, I had to make a decision displaying given a couple of options: I could be returned to Greece to join the Greek Army or I the vest he could be immediately drafted into the United States Army.” wears when “My dad didn’t want me to go to any Army,” Harry explains. “But they gave me 24 volunteering with Veterans Helping Veterans. hours to catch the next flight to the United States, and the next thing I knew, I was at Ft. Benning, Georgia training for the U.S. Army!” “I was with the 339th Construction Engineers division in Vietnam. We built helicop-

Back row from L to R - Konstatinos Athanassopoulos, sister Voula and brother George, Harry, sister Orunia and Judge Frank Zinn at the Citizenship Ceremonies. Harry with his sister Orunia and future wife, Betty Ann Delgado.

Harry, not long after going to work for the City of Gallup, surrounded by sisters and friends.

ter pads, portable hospitals and such, with pre-fabricated hinged metal planking. We also built roads working with Brown and Root Construction which was owned by Lady Bird Johnson, a big company like Halliburton. I learned to operate bulldozers, steam rollers, and other large equipment,” Harry states. “My papers had my name as Athanassopoulos,” Harry grins, “that was a lot of name for the First Sergeant to call out, so he called me ‘Alphabet!’”

Harry looks distressed as he explains, “I was doing guard duty at Cam Ranh Bay to Pleiku at the perimeter. My entire company was killed back at the base.” Harry shakes his head, “That is so haunting!” After that seven-month deployment, Harry did get to travel to Australia for much-needed R&R, but was soon returned to Vietnam.

During the Tet Offensive (named such for the lunar new year holiday called Tet), Harry was located by the Red Cross and was told his father had died and that he was to return to the United States. “I was really distressed, but eventually found out that it was not my father who died, but actually my Uncle Yiorgos (George), who had passed. Uncle George was listed as my nextof-kin on my Army documents and they thought he was my father. Unfortunately, I did not make it home for his funeral, as the plane broke down in the Philippines and I ended up stranded there for 30 days. I was on a plane with many deceased soldiers, and their return to family was also delayed. That was very sad,” Harry explains.

“After this unusual detour from Vietnam, I only had one month left before my discharge from the Army and I was returned back to the same area. But instead of going back to construction, for which I was trained, I was sent out on patrols because my commanding officer wanted combat medals!” Harry explains with disgust. “There were mortars coming in and shooting all around, and I was certainly in the middle of combat plus I was also very ill. This is where another detour happened; I had run out of malaria pills and collapsed in the jungle of Vietnam and woke up at a hospital in Japan, packed in a tub of ice. I had contracted malaria and was running a dangerously high fever!” he explains and shakes his head. “I was then transferred to William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas. I recovered from the malaria, but could not be released as all my medical records had been lost.” Harry laughs slightly, “I created my own fun by regularly catching a bus to Juarez, Mexico. I had no uniform, only civvies, but I was given $37 a day to spend as I wanted. It was a fun time, but I was very ready for someone to sign my discharge papers and let me get back to my family in Gallup!”

“Finally I received an honorable discharge, and I got a ticket back to Gallup on the Trailways bus. I got into Gallup at 11:30 at night and walked home. My dad cried when he answered the door to my knock. He told me he was very proud of me. I will always remember that,” Harry says.

“It was time for me to have a job, and I applied at the City of Gallup,” Harry says. “Though I was very qualified for the job because of my training in the military, I was still not a U.S. Citizen, and the City Manager at that time refused to hire me. I was pretty angry with the thought that I could fight for this country, but I could not have a job here,” Harry says showing a bit of resentment. “Dan Gutierrez, (father to Lionel Gutierrez, a three-tour Vietnam Veteran) helped many of my family to become citizens in 1969. After six months of study, we took the Oath of Citizenship in front of Judge Zinn. I then got that job at the city and worked for the water department for three years and then the electric department for 26 years and retired in 2002.” Harry gives a small laugh and says, “I think I was a pretty good employee!”

Harry is married to Betty Ann Delgado. They enjoy a comfortable life and happily share their common enjoyment of collecting unusual items at the Flea Market and garage sales.

Today, Harry is proud to participate with the local Veterans Helping Veterans. He wears his red shirt and black vest with his name “Athanassopoulos” (not Athens) embroidered on the back. He participates in many of the activities, still serving the community of Gallup. You can find Harry humbly saluting the American Flag, marching in the parades with other veterans, serving with the color guard for the funerals of fallen comrades, working at special events, and being a very proud citizen of Gallup and The United States of America.

Please join us for Veterans Day Ceremonies, Saturday, November 11, 2017

H10:00am at the Veterans section at Hillcrest Cemetery.H Followed by a parade on Aztec Avenue from the cemetery to the Court House Square and Veterans Plaza. H 1:00pm - We will then adjourn to the National Guard Armory for the OFFICIAL raising of the Giant. U. S. Flag

above Hasler Valley Road.