Thursday, May 21, 2015

Lieut. James Scondras - We Remember

 
Lieut. James Scondras was born in Lowell to Greek immigrants Peter (Spiros or Speros) and Katina (Ivos) Scondras. They raised their family at 287 Dutton Street across the street from Lowell National Park's parking lot. His dad owned the De Lux Cafe on Merrimack street. Jimmy or "The Chief" was one of nine children and one of the best athletes the city has ever seen.

He graduated from Lowell High School in 1937, one year at St. John's Prep in Danvers and graduated from Holy Cross in 1943. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp Reserves. He was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 1945 at the age of 25. He was awarded the Silver Star for his previous action in Guam when he wiped out a Japanese machine gun nest with an expert toss of a grenade.

His brother David was killed in action in France in November of 1944. In March of 1949 the bodies of James, David and their first cousin Costos Ivos who was shot down over Germany were returned to Lowell for burial in the Westlawn Cemetery.

James P. Scondras in in the Lowell High School Athletic Hall of Fame,The Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Rogers School Gymnasium is named in his honor.

Please remember the sacrifice that the Scondras & Ivos families gave for our freedom.


This concludes my series on Greater Lowell Iwo Jima heroes who died over seventy years ago. It was my honor to remember them.

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