Brotherhood of Athens

A soldier’s honor is often tested beyond imagination. Sometimes, it means defending friends and family in arenas unbound by the rules of conventional warfare against unknown enemies. USMC Col. James Kratsas (ret.) faced this challenge while he served with the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group – Greece (JUSMAGG) from 1983 through 1985; his friends, peers, and family faced continuous threats from terrorists in a foreign land that resented the scope and direction of his mission meant to preserve Greek democratic traditions. The Brotherhood of Athens details his trials and tribulations during his time abroad. James served with US Navy Capt. George Tsantes, a fellow Greek-American who shared James’ pride in serving their nation of birth, as well as the source of their Hellenic heritage. No one expected that the initial assassination threats would come true until Capt. Tsantes and his driver were ambushed by gunmen acting on behalf of the November 17th terrorist cell; the JUSMAGG officers were labeled by the Athenian newspapers as CIA officers, when they were actually trying to help the Greek military develop better training and security programs. Others attached to JUSMAGG would face similar threats; Kratsas himself barely avoided a late-night ambush as he returned from a casual party with his wife. The terror cells held no concern for anyone who would dare to assist those they considered enemies of their Communist doctrine, yet James managed to avoid threat after threat, and numerous hotel bombings, keeping his training and support missions on track and his family safe from constant danger. His Greek experience was not without joy and happiness; he developed a lifelong friendship with his cohorts in the Hellenic Special Forces elements, as well as the Navy SEAL Teams who came to share their expertise, their brotherhood, and their shared passion for freedom with their democratic compatriots. Even with the constant threat of RPG ambushes and random drive-by shootings, these brothers in arms shared their homes, their drink, and their lives as they made every effort to blend into the Athenian urban landscape and preserve freedom, even when it would cost them their lives. The Brotherhood of Athens is a testament to the cost of freedom and the strength of will required to preserve democracy everywhere.