For decades, Mike Kountouris was synonymous with the Mayflower Cafe. Nearly forgotten in Jackson is the Mayflower proprietor was a war hero, fighting behind enemy lines in Greece during WW2. Given the Mayflower's rebirth this week, it seemed appropriate to publish a flashback about Sergeant Mike Kountouris of the U.S. Army.
Published in 2010, the book Behind the Lines in Greece describes Kountouris' exploits as he faced death every day. The book is not available in bookstores or on Amazon but copies can be found online.
15 comments:
Thank you for this.
It's possibly a worn out expression, but these real heroes are America's Greatest Generation.
8:07 I agree fully. They were true Heroes, both male and female. A generation to be admired and remembered. Not said often enough in my opinion, and to me, not worn out at all. So few of them left. All of them who gave so much will be missed.
The SSgt and his brothers-in-arms are and will always be the true definition of "hero." Heroes are not sports figures nor Hollywood's make believe artists, all of whom the media fawn over.
posts about that fake , tourist trap ,overpriced, mary maloney's, should be nowhere near a post about mr mike k and the mayflower.
Hand salute!!!
The folks that owns Drago’s in New Orleans are
related the the folks at Mary Mahoneys …..hmmmm
Wonderful post, Kingfish. Thank you.
Amen 8:52
Wow! You have to admit that was one beautiful woman he married!
You said everything that needed to be said. Thank you. My hero was my dad who was in WWII (South Pacific and Korea).
This is in no way a comment about I this man in particular, but the “greatest generation” was not the WWII GIs. They came home and raised a bunch of spoiled brats. Prevailing in a European war does not automatically qualify the American soldier of that time as “heroic”. “Hero” is a much over-used word. I would contend that the Southern soldier who fought barefoot, sick, hungry, and wounded for four long years against an invading army bent on subjugation was much more heroic than any soldier of any war since. The War for Southern Independence was the last defensive war fought by Americans. Unfortunately it was doomed from the beginning for many reasons. However, these men were deemed heroes by their kin, friends, and communities, and justly so.
@4:15 There were definitely heroes on both sides of the War of Northern Aggression, and, like many Mississippians, I have direct ancestors (including uncles, cousins, etc.) who fought, and many died, for the Confederacy. That said, I won't exalt the efforts of those who waged a war that was predicated on the ownership of other human beings as if they were livestock. I get that it was a different time and different attitudes prevailed in what was a very different culture, so I won't vilify them either. Instead, I will learn from their mistakes, do my best to move Mississippi forward, and try not to keep us mired in the past.
4:15, way to non apologize for denigrating not only a favored son of Jackson, but an WWII paratrooper/commando of the OSS with a Purple Heart, AND his family and generation and the Boomer generation. You truly convinced me, a SCV and MOSB member, and vet, of the valor of Civil War vets. You do know that there was but a single execution of deserters in WWII, but hundreds upon hundreds in the CSA. In fact, 22 on one day under Pickett. NO. Neither the Confederates nor the Union were all valorous men, by any circumstances. This revisionist history you espouse is a joke. And, yes, we love family and suffered wounds and POWs in that war. As well as the latter ones. Much degeneracy and cowardice in the ranks. You do realize why there was a draft and mass absenteeism in the CSA as well. They were not great men all, although some were.
Mike was a badass. Truly. Yet he was a humble and kind man, loved by his community. He was part of what IS the Greatest Generation.
Spare us your tired "Boomers ruined everything" tripe and neo-Confederate fantasy. And apologize for insulting your betters.
@10:42
Well said!
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