Object ID
2000.4.10
Object Name
Photograph
Object Collection
Object Description
Black and white photograph of Cornelia Hontos accepting the Soldier's Medal in place of her deceased son, Pvt. George J. Hontos. On the left side of the photograph is James Hontos, George's father, and on the right side is an unknown United States military official.
Origin
George James Hontos was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 27th, 1920. The son of James and Cornelia Hontos, brother of Dimitra, Arthur, and John, who also served in the United States Navy. Two weeks following the Pearl Harbor disaster, he was called to serve his country in the Army. He trained for six months at Camps Yulen and Wallace, Tex. On March 1, 1942, the 434th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft) was activated. With this outfit, he was sent to England. After the completion of training, they took part in the liberation of Africa. George died from a landmine left by the Nazis, trying to aid some wounded women and children in Tunisia, on May 24th, 1943. Private George J. Hontos was awarded posthumously the Soldier's Medal and the Purple Heart.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Photograph, The George J. Hontos Collection, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/5323. Accessed 03/28/24.