Costas Caraganis was born in Lowell on August 15, 1910 to Louis and Christina Caraganis, Greek immigrants. He was raised in Dracut—1 of 8 children in the family. Caraganis attended Dracut schools and as a young man was active in the 4-H Club. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1929 (Dracut residents who wanted a high school diploma had to attend Lowell High School. Dracut did not have its own high school until 1934.). After graduating high school, Caraganis went on to college. He attended UMASS Amherst. During his time there, he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Caraganis graduated in 1933 and joined the Army reserves.
In 1940 Caraganis was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky as a lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division. In April 1941, he joined General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division. He took part in the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and then saw fighting throughout Europe—France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor with three oak clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. After World War II, Caraganis remained in the Army Reserves where he earned the rank of Brigadier General. In 1963 Brigadier General Caraganis served as commanding general for the 187th Infantry Brigade, HQ in Wollaston Massachusetts. "He was a persistent man.
After his retirement from the Army, Caraganis established National Perishable Services in Boston—a produce inspecting company. For a time, he lived in Hamilton where the Patton family lived. He ensured the Sherman tank on Hamilton Common which was used by Patton was taken care of properly.Caraganis was a true student of leadership and military history. He was a voracious reader on both subjects and donated his personal library—12,000 books—to Norwich University in Vermont—a military school.
At the age of 88, Caraganis passed away on December 19, 1998. His neighbor, Michael Conway said of Caraganis, "The military code was Duty, Honor, Country and he [Caraganis] followed that every day. He was a very honorable man."
In 1940 Caraganis was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky as a lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division. In April 1941, he joined General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division. He took part in the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and then saw fighting throughout Europe—France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor with three oak clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. After World War II, Caraganis remained in the Army Reserves where he earned the rank of Brigadier General. In 1963 Brigadier General Caraganis served as commanding general for the 187th Infantry Brigade, HQ in Wollaston Massachusetts. "He was a persistent man.
After his retirement from the Army, Caraganis established National Perishable Services in Boston—a produce inspecting company. For a time, he lived in Hamilton where the Patton family lived. He ensured the Sherman tank on Hamilton Common which was used by Patton was taken care of properly.Caraganis was a true student of leadership and military history. He was a voracious reader on both subjects and donated his personal library—12,000 books—to Norwich University in Vermont—a military school.
At the age of 88, Caraganis passed away on December 19, 1998. His neighbor, Michael Conway said of Caraganis, "The military code was Duty, Honor, Country and he [Caraganis] followed that every day. He was a very honorable man."
Costas Caraganis was born in Lowell on August 15, 1910 to Louis and Christina Caraganis, Greek immigrants. He was raised in Dracut—1 of 8 children in the family. Caraganis attended Dracut schools and as a young man was active in the 4-H Club. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1929 (Dracut residents who wanted a high school diploma had to attend Lowell High School. Dracut did not have its own high school until 1934.). After graduating high school, Caraganis went on to college. He attended UMASS Amherst. During his time there, he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Caraganis graduated in 1933 and joined the Army reserves.
In 1940 Caraganis was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky as a lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division. In April 1941, he joined General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division. He took part in the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and then saw fighting throughout Europe—France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor with three oak clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. After World War II, Caraganis remained in the Army Reserves where he earned the rank of Brigadier General. In 1963 Brigadier General Caraganis served as commanding general for the 187th Infantry Brigade, HQ in Wollaston Massachusetts. "He was a persistent man.
After his retirement from the Army, Caraganis established National Perishable Services in Boston—a produce inspecting company. For a time, he lived in Hamilton where the Patton family lived. He ensured the Sherman tank on Hamilton Common which was used by Patton was taken care of properly.Caraganis was a true student of leadership and military history. He was a voracious reader on both subjects and donated his personal library—12,000 books—to Norwich University in Vermont—a military school.
At the age of 88, Caraganis passed away on December 19, 1998. His neighbor, Michael Conway said of Caraganis, "The military code was Duty, Honor, Country and he [Caraganis] followed that every day. He was a very honorable man."
In 1940 Caraganis was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky as a lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division. In April 1941, he joined General George S. Patton's 4th Armored Division. He took part in the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and then saw fighting throughout Europe—France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor with three oak clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. After World War II, Caraganis remained in the Army Reserves where he earned the rank of Brigadier General. In 1963 Brigadier General Caraganis served as commanding general for the 187th Infantry Brigade, HQ in Wollaston Massachusetts. "He was a persistent man.
After his retirement from the Army, Caraganis established National Perishable Services in Boston—a produce inspecting company. For a time, he lived in Hamilton where the Patton family lived. He ensured the Sherman tank on Hamilton Common which was used by Patton was taken care of properly.Caraganis was a true student of leadership and military history. He was a voracious reader on both subjects and donated his personal library—12,000 books—to Norwich University in Vermont—a military school.
At the age of 88, Caraganis passed away on December 19, 1998. His neighbor, Michael Conway said of Caraganis, "The military code was Duty, Honor, Country and he [Caraganis] followed that every day. He was a very honorable man."
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