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Vasilios Demetris
VASILIOS DEMETRIS
Birth April 18, 1945
Hometown New York, New York
Parents Leonidas and Kalliope (Magoutsos) Demetris
Military branch Marine Corps
Early Life
Vasilios Demetris was born on April 18, 1945 in Thasos, Greece, to Leonidas and Kalliope (Magoutsos) Demetris. Leonidas Demetris served as a US Army Private in 1918 during World War I. The Demetris family lived in New York City, New York. Also known as Bill, Demetris attended Haaren High School and had a sister, Eustratia.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Demetris matriculated to UW-Platteville in 1963. While there, he was a member of the newly created soccer team and is known to have played every minute of every game as a defensive fullback and was the team captain for each playing year. The 1964, 1965, and 1966 UW-Platteville Men’s Soccer Teams won the NAIA District 14 Championships. In 2000, Demetris was inducted into the UW-Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame, the first soccer player so honored. He was a member of the Lambda Sigma Pi fraternity and graduated in June 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in English. Demetris met Judy Shea, of Fennimore, Wisconsin, while at Platteville, and the two were married on March 7, 1968 in Manassas, Virginia.
Military
Demetris attended the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, and earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Additional training included attendance at The Basic School, (H Company Class 8-68) and the Army Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Demetris reported to the Republic of Vietnam on Jan. 8, 1969 and was assigned to A Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines [Artillery], 1st Marine Division. While supporting D Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines [Infantry] in the Quang Nam Province as a Forward Artillery Observer, he was wounded on Jan. 24, 1969 and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
A Bronze Star Medal, with Combat Distinguishing Device, citation, awarded posthumously, reads as follows: "On February 23, 1969, the Second Platoon was participating in a combat operation in Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed enemy force. During the ensuing engagement both the platoon commander and platoon sergeant were seriously wounded, and realizing he was the senior Marine present, Second Lieutenant Demetris unhesitatingly assumed command of the unit. Quickly organizing the platoon, he completely disregarded his own safety to direct effective suppressive fire at the enemy emplacements and, after providing the necessary security, supervised the removal of casualties to a landing zone for medical evacuation. When all the casualties had been embarked upon helicopters, he skillfully maneuvered his men across the unfamiliar terrain to friendly lines without further incident."
"On the following day, 24 February, when the platoon came under heavy fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit, Second Lieutenant Demetris was fearlessly exposing himself to adjust supporting arms fire when he was mortally wounded. Second Lieutenant Demetris’ courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."
Lieutenant Demetris is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.
His name appears on a memorial to The Basic School Class 8-68 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico, Virginia. He is among 11 of the class of 238 officers who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Demetris’ awards include the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Purple Heart with gold star in lieu of second award, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Vasilios Demetris’ name appears on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. on panel W31, line 34.
