Harry George Karegeannes

Harry George Karegeannes, age 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Bedford, Texas. He was born on July 15, 1936, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Greek immigrant parents, George Constantine Karegeannes and Katherine Melehes. He was the seventh of eight children—four brothers and four sisters—and the youngest son in a large, close-knit family.

After graduating from high school, Harry enrolled at Wofford College, a small Methodist-affiliated liberal arts institution near his hometown. There he studied history, developed a lifelong enthusiasm for military history, and distinguished himself in the school’s ROTC program. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and near the top of his ROTC class, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.

Harry reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for Armor Officer Basic Training and soon thereafter received orders for his first overseas assignment in Korea. Following a 21-day Pacific voyage, he arrived at a northernmost Army outpost, where he assumed leadership of Second Platoon, C Troop, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, serving as the reconnaissance squadron for the 7th Infantry Division. Thus began an extraordinary 34-year military career marked by leadership, dedication, and distinction.

After returning to the United States, Harry initially completed his ROTC service obligation at Fort Benning, Georgia, and entered the Army Reserve. In 1960, however, he was asked to return to active duty. He accepted, converting his commission to the Regular Army as an Ordnance Corps Officer. Assigned to the Detroit Army Arsenal, he began a career specialty in contracting and acquisition of military equipment, including tanks, artillery, infantry weapons, vehicles, and ammunition.

During this period, Harry also began his life as a devoted husband and father. He met and married his beloved wife, Virginia (“Ginny”), and together they raised three children: Jason, and twins, Peter and Tara. The family accompanied Harry through numerous domestic and overseas assignments, including two tours in Germany and postings throughout the United States. His career advancement was always shared as a family journey.

After returning from his first three-year tour in Germany, Harry attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and in 1969 received orders for a year-long, unaccompanied tour in Vietnam. Before departing, he moved Ginny and their children to a rented home in Michigan to be near her family in the event he did not return. Harry did return safely, and the family then relocated to Maryland, where he was assigned to the Army Ordnance Center and School in Aberdeen. He was later sent by the Army to graduate school at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science degree in contracts and acquisitions.

Harry later returned to Germany for a second three-year tour, by then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and was given command of an Ordnance Battalion whose mission was to store, maintain, preposition, and issue equipment necessary for a division-sized unit to deploy rapidly in the event of a Soviet ground attack through the Fulda Gap. In this role, Harry served on the front lines of the Cold War.

Recognized for his leadership, Harry was promoted to Colonel and given command of the Tooele Army Depot in Utah, the largest of the Army’s depots. In 1984, he was selected for promotion to Brigadier General, a distinction approved by the United States Congress. He later served at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and at the Pentagon as head of the Army’s Contract Support Agency, becoming the Army’s Chief of Acquisition. Between 1987 and 1989, Harry was promoted to Major General and appointed Commanding General of the U.S. Army Depot Systems Command, overseeing all thirteen depots and 44,000 military and civilian personnel. In this role, he was responsible for logistical support of major operations, including those in Panama and during the first Iraq War following the invasion of Kuwait.

In 1992, Harry and Ginny retired from military service after 34 years of distinguished leadership. They settled in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where Harry continued his professional career with LTV, later acquired by Lockheed. In 1996, the couple became active members of the Greek Orthodox Church in Euless, Texas. Harry served as Parish Council President, welcomed Father Vasile Tudora to the parish in 2007, and was instrumental in the development and opening of the parish’s new church in 2012. His dedication left an enduring mark on the parish community.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Harry was, in the truest sense, a John Wayne–style American patriot. He was best known for his captivating and humorous stories, most of them true and always rooted in righteousness and moral fortitude. A cowboy at heart, a gentleman, and a patriot of his country, he served its people well and lived by a guiding principle he often shared: “mission first, people always.” A passionate admirer of Louis L’Amour western novels, Harry found inspiration in their themes of honor, courage, and frontier justice. To his children, he was one of the most compassionate and generous people they knew, the one they turned to for advice, questions, and concerns. Harry, along with his beloved Ginny, were extraordinary parents, and their presence will be missed beyond measure.

Harry is survived by his sisters, Becky Berenz and Ethel Tortorice; his children, Jason (Kristan), Peter (Eileen), and Tara (Mike); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He is remembered as a devoted husband and father, a man of deep faith, and a servant leader who dedicated his life to God, family, and country. May his memory be eternal.