Achilles Kozakis was born on October 19, 1923, in Lynn, 12 miles north of Boston along the North Shore. His father, Themistocles Kozakis was born in Elate, north of Nafpactos. He immigrated to the United States along with his two brothers, Christy and Arthur, when he was 10 years old. Christy was the older one at 16 and Arthur was 14 years old. In 1894 when they went through Ellis Island, the Immigration Officer could not pronounce Themistocles and told his father, "From now on you shall be called Thomas". Achilles mother, Mercine Kotsanatos, came from Mytilene island to America with her whole family, consisting of Achi's grandfather, Achilles, his grandmother, his Uncle Charles, and his Aunts Bessie and Christina. She was only 8 years old. Themistocles met Amersoutha when she was teaching English in the Greek Community School, so he married his teacher. When the Turks were fighting the Greeks during the Balkan Wars Themistocles went back to Greece and fought the Turks. He was wounded in battle and received citations and medals from his General and the King. He came back to the States and volunteered in the US Army. They turned him down because of his wounds fighting the Turks. He later became a Master Machinist and worked in the Instrument Department of the General Electric Company in Lynn for 30 years, where Achilles was born and raised.

With a family record like this, it was inevitable that Achilles would also prove himself in combat, some years later during WWII. He volunteered in October 1943 in Army Air Corps as Cadet Candidate and entered service in January 1944. He completed his Basic Training at Greensborough, N.C. in April 1944. While he was ready to proceed with his training the Congress eliminated 26,000 from Cadet Program. He asked for flight engineer school and was given a choice of one out of three: Infantry, Paratrooper, or Aerial Gunner. He chooses the latter one because all he wanted to do was to fly and attended the gunnery school at Laredo, Texas, graduating in June 1944. He Completed Combat Crew Training Bombardment (H) at Westover Field, Massachusetts with Harold S. Patterson's crew. In September 1944 at Langley Field, Virginia the crew received their aircraft B-24J #42—51993 and named it 'Pat's Wagon'. They received Operations Orders No. 57, Shipment No. FW-AY-9, leaving Grenier Field, Manchester, N.H. via the North Atlantic Route to Naples, Italy, reporting to the 19th Replacement Battalion for assignment and at this juncture, their aircraft was taken away. They were assigned to the 15th Air Force, 49th Bomb Wing, 451St Bomb Group, 726‘" Bomb Squadron, APO 520. Achilles Kozakis completed his tour of duty (35 missions, 54-sorties) from Nov. 1944 to April 1945 and he belonged to the Lead Crew for Flt. 'B' from Jan. 1945 to May 1945 within the 726th Bomb Squadron. Except his Air Crew Member Wing and Aerial Gunner Wings he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the ETO Service Medal with 5 Battle Campaigns, the American Theater Service Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and he was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal (DFC). The 451st BG received the Distinguished Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters. After being officially being an honorable member of the 'LUCKY BASTARDS CLUB' he returned to the zone of interior in June 1945.

A 32-day furlough followed, and reassignment to Atlantic City, NJ. in July 1945. Submitted to England General Hospital at Atlantic City for wounds he received during combat flying, thence to Bruns General Hospital, Santa Fe, N.M., and finally to Brooks General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where he received his Honourable Discharge on May 29, 1946. (10 months in 3 general hospitals). When he was discharged from the hospital on May 29, 1946, he came home and planned to enter a university for Mechanical Engineering Degree as he always wanted to be an Engineer since he was 14 years old. All his classes in school were leaning towards that end. He had 2 years of Latin and Aeronautics as elective subjects, and he was in the National Honour Society For two years. In January 1947 he left his home and his family and traveled Southwest to Arizona State University as he humorously said, to get away from the frigid winters up North. After he stopped in Houston for a couple of days he took the decision to attend the University of Houston to get the engineering Degree. There he met Rena, his sweetheart and were married in the Greek Church. Both were lucky to have six children. John, Thomas, Anna Marie, Peter (Perry), Christina and Gregory, all born from 1951 to 1964.