Jimmy G. Metchicas was the son of Greek immigrants couple and was born on April 10, 1921, in Newberry, South Carolina. His father Gus Metchicas was born in Constantinople, Turkey and his mother Evriklia Kehayas (Kehagia) was born in Alexandroupolis, Thrace, Greece. Gus emigrated to the United States of America around 1910. The Greek couple was married on June 21, 1920, in the Greek church of New York City, with the presence of fifty witnesses of its nationality. Most of the guests, including the 19 years old bride, departed from the port of Patras and arrived in the United States, on June 7, 1920, two weeks before the wedding ceremony, traveling for about 15 days, with the transatlantic passenger steamship, RMS Pannonia. After their wedding, Gus and Evriklia moved in Newberry, were Gus co-operated a candy shop, with his brother-in-law, Mr. John Kehayes, that named “Washington Kandy Kitchen”. (Washington was the name of the road in which the candy shop opened). A few years later, in 1926, Gus and Evriklia moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where they opened a restaurant. Besides Jimmie, they had also two daughters, Carrie and Anastasia. Unfortunately, Evriklia died suddenly on September 6, 1942, after she had been ill for only several hours! Several years later Gus married again, this time with Eva Godley Metchicas. He died on December 22, 1955. During his teenage years, Jimmie was an aviation enthusiast, he liked airplanes and loved the idea of flight. The young Greek-American was very popular between his friends and as a result, they elected him as the secretary of the youthful aerial club based at Greenville. Also, he was an avid aeromodeller and in August of 1938, participated in the first gas model plane meet, that organized in the Greenville’s municipal airport in South Carolina. Approximately 40 model airplanes were entered in this contest and the young Jimmie Metchicas took the second place. Prior to entering service, he was employed by the Busy Bee Cafe and the National Advisory of Civil Aeronautics at Langley Field, VA. He took the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) in 1942 and he volunteered for the Army Air Force. He graduated as a glider pilot from South Plains Army Flying School at Lubbock, Texas in 1943 (serial number T-122716). At the graduation ceremony, he was presented with his sterling silver “G” wings and promoted to Flight Officer (F/O), a wartime rank equivalent to the Army’s Warrant officer, junior grade. After the completion of his advanced glider training in March 1943, F/O Metchicas transferred with his classmates to England, in April 1943. In a letter he wrote back to his family in the United States on April 9, 1943, describing his life in England:

"Dear folks, well here I am at last somewhere in England. I don’t know where just yet. I don’t think it is permanent as yet. Let me know how long it takes for this letter to reach you. I had a very nice trip over on the ship. We traveled in a very good style. I enjoyed it very much. I only hope that very soon I can be making the return trip. I received a pop’s letter on the ship. We were received very well here. Everything seems to have a good system. I like the country very well. It is very pretty. I hope that I can see more of it soon. I think the possibilities are good. I'll try to send you a longer letter soon. Isn’t this a hell of a way for me to spend this Easter? And tomorrow is my birthday too. Well, let me hear from you soon. As always - yo boys. Give my regards to all."

Because of his early post for overseas duty, more than a year before the -Day in Normandy, there is a possibility that Jimmy took part and obviously survived Operation 'Husky' in Italy, before coming back to England and prepare for Operation 'Overlord'. At the end of 1943, the Greek American pilot assigned to the 88th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command operating on the European Theater of Operation. From March 1944 he was stationed at Greenham Common in England and his Troop Carrier Group, the 438th, led the Air Armada for the air assault on Normandy on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). However, there were six glider missions for the Normandy campaign, and Jimmy was sent on detached service to the 434th at Aldermaster airfield to fly a glider for the 'Keokuk' mission. Before D-Day Jimmy wrote his will and appointed his father Gus and his wife, Letha Mae Metchicas, as beneficiaries. Jimmie and Letha were married he was sent overseas. In the fateful mission of 6 June 1944, F/O Metchicas flew one of the 32 Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Gliders to Landing Zone 'E'. He flew with 2nd Lt. Luther G. Lau and his tow plane commanded by Maj. Parkinson. The 32 Horsa's carried 157 men, Signal, Medical & Staff pers., 40 vehicles, 6 guns, 19 tons of equipment and supplies. They landed at 21:00 hours.