Lt. Col. Kalamaras Returns Home to Lead Charleroi Veterans Day Parade

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 October 2015 12:39

Charleroi’s Veterans Day Parade will also be a retirement party for one of its hometown heroes, who will act as Grand Marshall for the November 7th event. United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Peter Kalamaras Jr. will lead the parade through Downtown Charleroi starting at 2 p.m.

Col.Kalamaras

He will have no problem finding his way through the downtown streets. The recently retired Lt. Col. was raised in the 400 block of Fallowfield Ave. where his mother, Mary Ann Kalamaras, and father, the late Pete Kalamaras Sr. owned and operated the well-know Kaly’s Bar and Restaurant for more than 30 years.

The highly decorated Kalamaras was a 1988 Charleroi High School graduate who, after graduation, went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned into the United States Army’s Medical Service Corps in 1992. After completing the AMEDD Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division, located at Fort Bragg, NC. Following his time in the medical company, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras was assigned to 2-325th Airborne Infantry Regiment where he served as the medical platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion S-1 (personnel officer).

After attending the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course and the Combined Arms Services Staff School in 1997, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras was assigned to Fort Stewart, GA. He then served in the 26th Forward Support Battalion as the Battalion Operations Officer followed by Medical Company Command.

In 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras transferred to Winn Army Community Hospital where he served as Plans and Operations Officer. In 2002, he served as Chief, Operations and Training, 18th Medical Command, Republic of Korea. From 2003 to 2005, he attended the U.S. Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Healthcare Administration. Following his administrative residency, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras served as executive officer for Womack Army Medical Center, located at Fort Bragg, NC.

From 2006 to 2008, he served as operations officer followed by executive officer of 28th Combat Support Hospital where he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. Upon his return, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras transitioned to Atlanta, GA and Headquarters, United States Force Command, from 2008-2010, where he served as medical organization integrator for Force Management Division, G-3/5/7.

Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras was selected for battalion command in 2010. From 2010 to 2012, he served as the 1916th Support Battalion Commander located in Fort Irwin, CA. There he led Soldiers who provided theater-level sustainment at the National Training Center where forces train for contingency operations.

From 2012 to present, Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras has been assigned to Headquarters Department of the Army within the Office of the Surgeon General located in Falls Church, VA. He has served as Chief of Force Management Division managing organizational change for battlefield medical units. He also served as special assistant to The Surgeon General (TSG) and Commanding General (CG), US Army Medical Command, designing and shaping strategic initiatives in the areas of health and healthcare.

Lieutenant Colonel Kalamaras’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with One Star, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. His badges include the Expert Field Medical Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge.

Kalamaras recently reflected on his military service, stating, “On June 28, 1988, just three weeks after graduating from Charleroi Area High School, I embarked on a journey to serve in our nation’s military. I began this journey at West Point and continued to serve worldwide for 23 plus years upon being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. I did not do this alone. Our Lord and Savior guided my path. My parents and church community engrained discipline, hard work, and selfless service. Many teachers and local community leaders, several of whom are veterans, demanded excellence. I am humbled and honored to return and celebrate Veterans Day 2015 with the community that has been instrumental in my life."