The AHEPAN - Spring 2014 - (Page 22)
VETERANS
Profile in Courage: D-Day Vet, POW,
Zazas Honored with Periclean Award
At the age of
19, Brother
Chris James
Zazas was
drafted by
the United
States army, Feb. 12, 1943, to serve
state-side in New York as a member of
the counter-intelligence service. A quick
study, Brother Zazas received a promotion to the rank of sergeant. However,
as preparations for the D-Day invasion
began, he was re-assigned to the 4th
division, 22nd infantry, "I" Company in
South Carolina, where he perfected his
new skills as a weapons expert.
In June 1944, Sergeant Zazas was
among the first wave of troops to
land on Omaha Beach, Normandy,
France, because of his dual expertise in armor and weapons repair.
At Normandy, Brother Zazas quickly
distinguished himself from the other
troops. He was one of a 55-manunit sent ashore to take out German
.88 caliber gun emplacements, which
required the use of six-foot explosive pipe bandoliers loaded with TNT.
The initial assault exposed his unit
to heavy and relentless enemy fire.
Only four of the 55 men survived
the assault after German gunfire
immediately destroyed his landing
craft. Thankfully, Sergeant Zazas was
already in the water having disembarked first. Outnumbered, Zazas
and three remaining men continued the charge without regard for
their personal safety. Army records
of these early hours credit Sergeant
Zazas and his men with destroying
12 German "pill box" emplacements.
He is also credited with killing three
22
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THE AHEPAN · Spring 2014
German soldiers in hand-to-hand
combat during the ensuing chaos of
the onslaught.
During the army troops' push
inland, Brother Zazas became involved
in countless battles. As a result, he
received his first wounds on July 12,
1944. However, Sergeant Zazas disregarded his wounds. Always thinking
of the mission first, he was captured
Sgt. Zazas circa 1943.
by Germans troops while crossing the
Rhine River. The German troops took
notice and were amazed that he had
been shot in the leg, the arms, and the
shoulders. It was only then he was rendered proper medical attention as he
was transported to Stalag 7-a to become
a "guest" of the Third Reich. Later, the
Germans transferred Sergeant Zazas
to the villainous Dachau death camp,
where he was incarcerated. There, the
Nazis ordered him to do the unthinkable. Called "burial duty," Zazas shoveled out the ashes of exterminated Jews
from the ovens.
Sergeant Zazas was liberated when
Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army marched
across Europe in the fall of 1945.
Brother Zazas returned to Des Moines
a hero and decorated veteran. He is credited with numerous Army citations; good conduct medals;
the POW Medal; the European/
African Service Medal; the
WWII Victory Medal; the D-Day
Medal; two Bronze Stars; and
five Purple Hearts.
He graduated from Drake
University on the G.I. Bill
with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Marketing and fell
in love with and married Mary
Cappas in 1949. Together,
they have two children, James
and Angie. Chris and Mary
have four grandchildren and
two great grandchildren. They
have been happily married for
64 years and enjoyed over 50
years in the jewelry business.
Together, they are esteemed
members of their church, and
continue to exhibit exemplary
service to it. Brother Zazas served as
president of the church community.
A Life Member of AHEPA, he has
held every chapter officer position,
district lodge position, and eventually
served as supreme treasurer. According
to AHEPA official records, including his
time as a Son of Pericles, Brother Zazas
is credited with more than 70 years of
distinguished service to the Orders.
www.ahepa.org
http://www.ahepa.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The AHEPAN - Spring 2014
President’s Message
Ahepa Family News
American Hellenic, American Jewish Groups Hail Historic Three-Country Mission
Preview: Ahepa Family Supreme Convention
The Jerusalem Patriarchate Endures
Veterans
Civic Responsibility
Athletics
Periclean
Housing
Ahepa Family Chapter News
In Memoriam
The AHEPAN - Spring 2014
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