War Bonds

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aving been “duly initiated into the sacred mysteries” of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), Dad joined the fraternity’s Mohawk Valley Chapter No. 143 on April 20, 1938, at age twenty-five, a year after completing law school.  He soon got busy leading the chapter’s war bond sales during World War II.

Leon Marketos (1937)

AHEPA Chapter No. 143 was formed in May 1927, five years after the founding of the AHEPA itself.  Among the chapter’s charter members was my maternal grandfather, Dimitrios Cosolias.  In recent years, the chapter’s declining membership caused it to be merged into the nearby Syracuse chapter.

The AHEPA press book distributed for the guidance of local chapters boasted of the unique honor of being designated an official issuing agent for war bonds:

Cognizant of AHEPA’s patriotic work in the past, the United States Treasury Department has designated the Order of AHEPA as an Official Issuing Agent in the sale of War Bonds Series E.  Thus, AHEPA is the first and only organization of its type to be so designated. . . . Our Government has faith in the AHEPA to mobilize a home front army of Americans of Hellenic descent, who, although all of them cannot fight with guns, can put guns into the hands of those who fight.

The AHEPA drive officially started October 28, 1942, the second anniversary of Greece’s answer “No” to Mussolini’s demand for capitulation, a heroic challenge to fascism that electrified the free world.  The bond drive was to close on Washington’s Birthday, February 22, 1943.  Its mission was to sell $50 million worth of war bonds nationally in 118 days.  The quota for Mohawk Valley Chapter No. 143 was $60,000.  Already serving as president of the Utica chapter at the time, Dad also became chairman of the chapter’s bond drive committee:

At a meeting held at the Morris Coffee Shop Dec. 8th [1942] President Leon Marketos of Mohawk Valley Chapter 143 was nominated and unanimously elected chairman of the Bond Drive sponsored by the Order of Ahepa.

Brother Spiros Livadas Rochester N.Y., district treasurer of the Order [of] Ahepa, explained the proposed drive and suggested method of procedure.

Other members of the committee to assist Brother Marketos in connection with the drive elected unanimously was brother James Katapodes [secretary] and Harry A. Morris [treasurer].  The General committee appointed includes brother Louis Colocotronis, Hercules Gianatos, Peter Karayanes, James Badjiakas [vice-chairman], James Manolatos, Thomas Morris, Peter Leon, Pantelis Caloyanes, Basil Brown [publicity director], Thomas Catris, Elias Gianatos, George Georgules, Spyros Livada, Thrasivoulos Livada.

Brother Livadas (Rochester) to start the ball rolling subscribed for a $100 bond to be credited to the Utica chapter.  Thrasivoulos Livada $1,500 bond maturity value. Basil Brown $100.  James Katopodes $1,000.  Louis Colocotronis $500.  Leon Marketos $200.  Peter Karayanes $200.  James Badgiakas $500.  H. Morris $1,500.  Mr. Leon $1,500.  James Manolatos $1,000.

Brother Livadas at the conclusion of the meeting congratulated those present for raising $10,000 starting the campaign and predicted the success of the drive.

Brother Anagrios, formerly of Syracuse and now of Rochester, N.Y., spoke in similar vein.

The Series E war bonds were sold in denominations of $25 (issue price $18.75), $50 ($37.50), $100 ($75), $500 ($375), and $1,000 ($750).  On May 28, 1943, Dad reported (probably to the Oneida County War Finance Committee) that the chapter had sold $68,275 worth of bonds.  Another war bond drive was conducted in 1943 with the goal of selling $100 million in bonds between July 1, 1943, and July 1, 1944.  Dad actively participated in this and subsequent drives as well.  Altogether, the AHEPA’s war bond drives are said to have brought in more than $500 million.

For his “splendid and patriotic service to [his] country in connection with the War Bond Campaigns of World War II,” Dad was awarded a silver medal by the War Finance Committee of the U.S. Treasury Department, which was struck off “[a]s a special memento to be presented to a limited number of leaders who had been of outstanding service” during the various War Bond Campaigns.  The medal is engraved with his name and was also presented on behalf of the Oneida County War Finance Committee.

He also received two written citations from the U.S. Treasury Department.