Tec 5 Peter John Liaros (32833976)

Wounded three times, fatally on the third occasion, Peter J. Liaros was honoured in a memorial book for the Greek community of Buffalo after the war.

The After Action reports record his first serious wounding on December 11 1944, in Großhau, Hürtgenwald. Transferred to hospital in Britain he is listed as a returning replacement on February 1 1945. He was wounded again the following month and listed as KIA on March 21 1945.

[Editor’s note: there are discrepancies on some dates between the After Action Reports and the memorial details below. Peter’s Silver Star citation will be detailed here when we find it]

IN MEMORY OF PETER J. LIAROS

Born in Buffalo, New York, October 13, 1922, Peter J. Liaros attended and graduated from Public School #59 in 1937. He also attended and graduated from East High School in 1941. Peter continued his education at the University of Buffalo with the intention of studying Law. He was in his second year of the University of Buffalo when he was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 24, 1943.

Prior to his military service, Peter was very active with several Greek Orthodox Church Activities and was a member of the Church Choir. He also was a member of the first group of young Greek Lads that helped to organize and form the Buffalo Chapter of the “Sons of Pericles”, order of the “Ahepa”, and was elected to the position of Secretary, Treasurer and President of that chapter respectively. He was elected the Corresponding Secretary and followed it up with the new year election to the position of Governor on the Empire State District Lodge of the “Sons of Pericles”.

Peter’s additional knowledge and sincere love and interest of his Motherland, Greece, was astonishingly demonstrated by Peter’s mastery of the Greek language. He was able to write, read and speak Greek fluently. This knowledge of the Greek language encouraged and eventually aided Peter to further his studies of other foreign languages in school. In addition to Greek, Peter also studied Spanish, Latin and French. During his educational career, Peter was an honor student and one of the many scholastic careers was scholaring for the parent organization of the fraternity he cherished highly and that was the “Order of Ahepa”. He was declared a winner of the “Public Speaker” and was recognized by members of both East High School and the University of Buffalo’s Debate Teams. While at East High School, Peter was on the staff of the school yearbook, “The Estonian”, studied “Dramatics” as a member of the Chess Club and was also interested in sports by participating on the Track and Tennis teams.

Peter started off the University of Buffalo and with the advice of his parents and his life-long friend, Mr. George F. Phillips, pursued within himself a burning love. It was Peter’s ambition to someday be well associated with “The George E. Phillips Law Firm”, limited to her public service. “The George E. Phillips Law Firm” tried to foster noble ideals and civic responsibility.

Inducted into the U.S. Army, Peter on the 24th of February 1943. Upon Camp Maxey, Texas, as a member of a mechanized cavalry unit before departing for Europe early in December 1943.

Upon arriving in the European Theatre of Operations, Peter Liaros was attached to the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron*. Peter Liaros was stationed in Southern England from December 1943 until the unforgettable “Normandy Invasion of June 1944”.

Peter was one of the countless thousands of military personnel participating in that memorable invasion on the French Coast. During the Normandy invasion Peter distinguished himself heroically by liberating countless towns and villages, including one French family which was afterwards named after him. Peter always managed to correspond regularly with his parents, relatives and friends here at home and also with his brother Harry, who was on duty with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific Theatre of War.

As the war progressed, Peter Liaros was involved in heavy combat and on March 7, 1945, while fighting in the vicinity of the Rhine River near Wesel, Germany, he was seriously wounded. He was evacuated to a hospital in England.

Later he was returned to the European front and again engaged in heavy combat. On March 27, 1945, while fighting in the vicinity of the Elbe River near Magdeburg, Germany, Peter Liaros was again wounded. He was evacuated to a hospital in France.

Despite the best medical attention available, Peter Liaros succumbed to his wounds on March 29, 1945.

Peter Liaros was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy.

Peter Liaros was laid to rest with military honors.

*Site editor’s note: Peter is listed in the squadron rosters as Troop A 24th Cav Recon.

We have also received this message from a family member, Joseph Bradley, via Ancestry.

“Peter was my step grandfather’s brother (Harry Liaros). I grew up seeing his military photo often and one of his Purple Hearts when I would visit my grandfather. I often wondered what he was like and this short paragraph was exactly how my grandfather always described him.

“In his 22 years he accomplished so much and I am certain that if he would have survived he would have gone on to do so much more. 

He graduated high school and began college. He was fluent in Greek being able to speak, write and read in the language. He also could speak Spanish, Latin and French. He was studying law and had already secured a position when he completed his studies. He was active in many different clubs and was an athlete. In 1943, he was called by the Army for service. 

He was stationed in Southern England and then he participated in the Normandy invasion in 1944, He was slightly wounded twice when in France. He was wounded later that year a 3rd time in Germany and he was awarded the Purple Heart for "meritorious service and wounds received" After a period of rest in the hospital he was rejoined his unit on the front lines, The Rhine River. In March 1945, he was wounded for the 4th time critically. His wounds were severe and after 2 days of suffering he succumbed to his wounds on March 21 1944 at the age of 22.”

Peter John Liaros was born October 13 1922, in Buffalo, New York. He died March 21 1945, near Stommeln, Germany.