Paul Skarlatos, Navy Captain, United States Naval Academy, Class of 1954,  was born in Rochester, NY, USA, in 1930 to Nicholas Skarlatos and Ioanna (maiden name -  Triandafilakos) Skarlatos. His father was born in the village of Grammousa, Greece and his mother was born in Filisi, Greece, both from Laconia district. Nicholas was a business partner of Ioanna’s first husband, George Andrew Lembaris. They all emigrated to the United States between 1917 and 1924,  became naturalized American citizens, and Nicholas and George established a restaurant in Rochester, NY (the South Ave. Candy Kitchen – known for its homemade chocolates and ice cream).  Ioanna married George in 1925, and they had two sons together, Andrew and George. When, George Lembaris  Sr. died in 1927, Ioanna (known as Joan) married Nicholas Skarlatos. They produced four children: Paul, Spero, Mary, and Rose. When Paul was a child, he spent about a year at home, recovering from surgeries related to his leg. As a result, he became very studious, reading anything he could get his hands on, but especially loving military history , science, and literature.  Once he recovered, he was especially passionate about sports, making up for lost time. Paul and his brothers also worked in their father’s restaurant business through their formative teenage years, which instilled in all of them a huge passion for ice cream (which has been passed down genetically to all of their children and grandchildren)! When Paul graduated from high school in 1948 he was accepted into the University of Michigan, and attended that school for two years, playing junior varsity football, and enrolling in the pre-medicine program.  Because his family could not afford college tuition for his sister, Mary, Paul applied for and was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in 1950, so his sister could go to Ohio State University. He excelled at the Naval Academy, and became Company Commander of his regiment, an honor reserved for those with unique leadership qualities. While attending the Naval Academy he met Marguerite Ryan on a blind date, and they fell in love at first sight. He married her a year after graduating in 1954.  They had three children together: Michael, Elizabeth, and Matthew. Paul Skarlatos was commissioned an Ensign upon his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1954. He received his designation as a Naval Aviator in November, 1955. He reported to Training Squadron ONE at Saufley Field Florida, in January 1956, where he served as an instructor. In April 1957, he reported to Fleet Air Weapons Training Unite Detachment BRAVO at Oceana Virginia, where he served as Flight Instructor. Afterwards he served with Attack Sqiadron 43 and later Fighter Squadron 74 aboard USS INTERPID as Administrative Officer from 1959 to 1961. He was then posted to U.S. Naval Academy as an Instructor in Naval Science until 1964 and during that year he returned to the Fleet, serving aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) as Gunnery Officer. In 1964, Paul Skarlatos received a Masters Degree in Foreign Affairs from American University. His next assignment was as Operations Officer in Fighter Squadron 13. While with VF-13, he made two Mediterranean cruises on board USS SHANGRI-LA (CVA-38).  He leveraged his fluency in Greek on one occasion while on a deployment in the Mediterranean, to the benefit of his squadron:

Submitted by a shipmate from the USS SHANGRI-LA:  “One night while I was Assistant Air Operations Officer on the USS Shangri-LA (CVA 38), we were operating in the Ionian Sea. Araxos Airport in Greece was the divert field. Weather was not good when we launched the last cycle for the night, which included several F-8 Crusaders, but it quickly turned very bad. It was obvious that getting the airplanes back on board was going to be a problem. We did bring them down for a pass, but conditions were such that a decision to divert was quickly made. Unfortunately, by this time Araxos Airport concluded we had finished for the night,  and turned off the lights at the airfield. The ship was unable to establish contact with them to have the lights turned back on. With no viable divert field available, things were becoming very tense very quickly. Paul Skarlatos, the leader of the flight, spoke fluent Greek and made contact with officials at Araxos, who turned the lights back on, but they could not bring their radar and navigation aids up quickly enough to help. Paul was able to find the field, where he landed and kept his airplane turning to provide automatic direction finder homing for the rest of the flight. All landed safely." 

In August 1968, he reported to the Naval War College and was subsequently selected as a Distinguished Graduate of the School of Naval Command and Staff for the Academic Year 1968-1969. He received refresher training in the F-8 Crusader at Fighter Squadron 124  after which he reported to Fighter Squadron 53 as Executive Officer. He assumed command of Fighter Squadron 53 in July 1970, after the CO was killed in action, during a Vietnam deployment on the USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31). His next assignment was as Commander Naval Air Pacific Staff. Upon relocating to the East Coast in 1972, Paul Skarlatos was assigned to U.S. Navy Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS), where he was responsible for detailing assignments for Naval Officers. For his duties and actions during war he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat ' V', the Navy Commendation Medal, the Air Medal and several campaign medals. Paul retired as a Navy Captain in 1978 and became a successful businessman in private industry working for companies such as TRW. He received a Masters Degree in Information Technology from American University after retiring from the Navy. He was a devoted and loving father and husband. He was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite, who died in 1992. Paul died in 2018 at 87, and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, rejoining his beloved wife.