From teen band to band of soldiers, Charleroi native reflects on career
Rick Shrum
Gus Pagonis grew up in Charleroi three-quarters of a century ago, amid smokestacks and among countless Mon Valley kids who likewise were uncertain of their lifetime trajectories.
“I was in a rock ‘n roll band in the Valley when I was younger,” Pagonis recounted. “I think I was 15 or 16. My dad would say, ‘Do you want to be a bum all of your life or go to school?’
His father, an immigrant from Greece, pushed his son. “He sent me to a steel mill, where he knew the foreman,” Gus said. I realized that I don’t want to do that all of my life.”
So upon graduation from Charleroi High School, Pagonis enrolled at Pennsylvania State University, which led to his trajectory.
“Penn State was a land grant school and all males then had to take two years of mandatory training,” he said, referring in his instance to Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
“I liked it and stayed another two years” before being commissioned into the U.S. Army.”
It was the early stages of a 29-year military career that, literally, was star-studded. William Pagonis – “call me Gus” – retired with the three-star rank of lieutenant general and acclaim for his duties in the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 – a conflict that began with Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
Then a major general, Pagonis served as Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf’s director of American logistics during that war, pitting Iraq and a coalition of 35 nations led by the United States. Pagonis was the first American to arrive in Saudi Arabia, hours after it was decided to send troops.
“Everyone thought the war would last a while,” Pagonis said during a recent telephone interview from his home in Evans City, Butler County. “The enemy had a lot of troops. No one thought it would last 100 hours, but it was over in a matter of days. We landed about 500 troops a day.
“We annihilated the enemy and secured the area. Schwarzkopf promoted me to three star and President H.W. Bush approved.”
Pagonis was promoted to lieutenant general during the war and retired in October 1993 with a resume that included two tours in Vietnam. He earned numerous military awards during his three decades in uniform, including a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge and a Distinguished Service Medal.
He also received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State en route to writing a book, “Moving Mountains: Lessons and Logistics from the Gulf War.”
Pagonis remains highly devoted to the military, and patriotic. Asked about the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities a little more than a day earlier, he said Tuesday morning: “I know as much as you know. We have no facts, but we have to think the president made the right decision. You can’t allow Iran to fully develop nuclear weapons.”
Pagonis is a sprightly 84 now, enjoying life with a closely knit and nearby family while overseeing an Arabian horse farm. He and his wife, Cheryl, originally from Indiana, Pa., met at Penn State and entered the military at the same time.
They have been married for 61 years, having taken their vows at St. Spyridon, a Greek Orthodox Church in Monessen, on June 14 – appropriately Flag Day. His father, an immigrant from Greece, and mother, originally from Aliquippa, were storekeepers in the Valley.
Gus heaps praise on his spouse for successfully helping to guide their family. “There is a lot of wear and tear on a military family,” he said. “There is a high percentage of military kids who eventually go into the military.”
The Pagonises have two sons, Gust and Robert, veterans who reside near them. Gus and Cheryl also have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Gus, Cheryl and their sons were part of the capacity crowd that attended “Rocky Bleier’s Roll Call for the Greatest Generation,” an event honoring 18 veterans of World War II at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
This was on June 6, timed to coincide with the 81st anniversary of the D-Day Invasion and the 250th birthday of the Army.
Dr. Terrie Suica-Reed, a coordinator of the celebration and a civilian aide to Dan Driscoll, secretary of the Army, was pleased that the Pagonis family was well represented, despite a pleasant rejection from the lieutenant general.
“I asked him to be keynote speaker,” Suica-Reed said. “He graciously turned me down, saying he didn’t want an emphasis on him, that other people were more deserving.”
“Gus made everyone feel welcomed at being at an elite event.”
Pagonis said simply: “This was for World War II veterans.”
“He is the last living senior official from the Gulf War,” Suica-Reed said. “Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell have passed. Gus played a key role.He is a great leader, and a strong individual with a lot of kindness.”
The June 6 program, Suica-Reed said, will likely be a model for a similar military celebration targeted for May or June 2026 in Pittsburgh. Planning is underway for an event that would recognize veterans of different wars and other historical events for the nation’s 250th birthday.
Gus Pagonis enjoyed the June 6 gala.
“The event we attended was extremely professional and well done,” he said. “Terrie is amazing. She looks out for veterans in many ways.”
So does he. As diligent and calculating of a soldier as he was, though, Pagonis said he has a simple hope for the future: “There will be no more wars.”