Today, Wednesday 24 February 2021, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos attended the decoration ceremony in honour of ship-owner Mr. Iakovos Tsounis who was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit by the President of the Hellenic Republic Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou for his outstanding contribution to the Armed Forces.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis and the HNDGS Chief General Konstantinos Floros.

Iakovos Tsounis Curriculum Vitae

Iakovos Tsounis was born in Eglykada of Patras in 1924. He was the 13th child of the family of Patras forester Konstantinos Tsounis. He is a descendant of 1821 warriors of the Lontos and Petmezas families.

When he was 16 years old he voluntarily joined the Hellenic Army and went to the forefront on the Albanian mountains during the Greek-Italian war of 1940. Mr. Tsounis is the youngest veteran in the anti-Nazi and anti-fascist war with global recognition. His participation in WW2 has been recognized by all Greek governments.

Following the completion of his studies he worked on customs, imports and exports and vessel recycling. He is a graduate of the Hamilton Institute, New York. In 1966 he entered the merchant marine sector and owned 13 vessels.

Ship-owner Iakovos Tsounis has served without payment as an advisor to the Chairman of the National Bank on shipping matters. His successful course as a special advisor rendered him a distinguished member of the administrative board of the National Bank.

He has served as a Chairman of Hellenism Studies in Great Britain, Vice-Chairman in the Committee of Raising Awareness on National Matters and Laws and Vice-Chairman of the Athenian Club, as well as co-founder of various foundations and medical companies.

He is the establisher of the “Iakovos Tsounis” Museum, which he donated to the Holy Metropolis of Kalavryta and Aigialeia, based at Aigion. The museum hosts his priceless collection of 17th century artefacts, of special national and religious importance.

Since WW2 he has always respected and loved the Armed Forces and the role they play for the safety of Greece, and since the 1950s he has always stood by them with offers and donations, whenever required. During these decades he has offered more than 23.000.000 Euro, including more than 7.000.000 Euro over the past two years. As a last indication of love and support to the Armed Forces he decided to bequeath all of his assets to the Armed Forces.

For his offer he has been honoured with a number of distinctions and titles, indicatively we mention the following:

• Medal of Outstanding Acts C’ Class

• War Cross C’ Class

• Golden Lion NATO Headquarters

• Star of Valour and Merit of the Ministry of National Defence

• Honourary promotion to Major General

• Honourary Chairman of 401 General Army Hospital of Athens

• Grand Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Senior Patriarchates