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GEORGE STANLEY KOURAKOS was born in
Pittsburgh, PA, to Stanley P. Kourakos, a
restaurateur, and his wife Irene. He grew up
in Pittsburgh along with his brother and
three sisters.
George was an excellent student and graduated
with honors from Perry High School in
1945. When he became interested in chemistry,
his father had a laboratory built for him
in the basement. It was well stocked and included
even a Bunsen burner. In addition,
George enjoyed all types of music and indicated
an interest in playing the violin. George
also became proficient in reading, writing, and
speaking Greek. His father had served in the
Army during World War I, and the day after
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, his father
rushed out of his restaurant to the Army recruiting
office in downtown Pittsburgh to
enlist but was turned down.
Upon graduation from high school, George,
having inherited his father’s love of country, enlisted
in an Army Specialized Training Program,
attended Virginia Military Institute, and was
commissioned into the Army Reserves. He
served from 1945 until May 1950, attaining
the rank of first lieutenant. He served in the
European Occupation (Airlift) and was stationed
in Berlin, Germany. His commanding
officer there took a great interest in his career,
became his mentor, and guided him through
the process of competing for and achieving
entrance to the West Point Preparatory School
at Stewart Field, NY. George then resigned his
commission, reenlisted as a non-commissioned
officer, entered Prep School, and was selected to
enter the Academy. Meanwhile, Congressman
Robert J. Corbett offered George a congressional
appointment based upon the results of
extensive screening of numerous applicants
by the local American Legion Post. Although
George had already been appointed as a result
of the competition in Germany and his record
at Prep School, a congressional appointment
was considered more prestigious, and he accepted
that offer.
On 2 May 1950, George’s father passed
away, and George immediately made plans to
relinquish his appointment to remain home
and help run the family business. His mother,
though, insisted that he continue his military
career. So, on 5 Jul 1950, with a heavy heart,
George entered West Point. During his time as
a cadet, George was battalion commander of
the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment; leader of the
Cadet Chapel Choir; Hop manager; Boxing
manager; and a staff member of the Pointer and
the Howitzer. His classmates knew him as an
amiable, earnest, compassionate man of honor
who had traded his silver bars for a place in e
Long Gray Line. At graduation, he ranked 99th
out of 634.
Upon graduation, George completed the
Infantry Officers Basic, Ranger, Parachute, and
Jumpmaster Courses. He then served as a rifle
company commander in Korea before attending
the Georgia Institute of Technology to earn a
master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1962.
From then until 1965, he was assigned to the
Department of the Army staff in the Office of
Research and Development, where he would
serve three tours. After graduating from CGSC
in 1966, he served as brigade and division intelligence
officer for the 1st Infantry Division
in Viet Nam (1966–1967) and later as regimental
senior advisor with the 1st Vietnamese
Infantry Division during the North Vietnamese
Offensive of 1972. George then returned to the
Office of Research and Development, DA staff,
from 1967 to 1968, followed by assignment to
the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 1971.
From 1978 to 1981, George was assigned as
NATO representative in Athens, Greece. He retired
in 1983 after duty with the Army Materiel
Command in Alexandria, VA. For the following
eight years, he served his country by working as
senior principal engineer with the defense contractor
Computer Sciences Corporation in Falls
Church, VA.
His military awards included the American
Campaign Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, Good Conduct Medal, two National
Defense Service Medals, the Meritorious Unit
Commendation, Senior Parachutist Badge,
Ranger Tab, General Staff Identification
Badge, three Legions of Merit, Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat
Infantryman Badge, Air Medal, three Bronze
Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, a
Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with silver star, and numerous
others.
During one of his assignments at the
Pentagon, George met Marie Marshall from
Hendersonville, NC. Following a long courtship,
George and Marie were married on 7
Dec 1969 at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox
Church in Falls Church, VA. They resided in
Fairfax, VA. Although they were childless, they
took great pleasure in spending time with their
many nieces and nephews, who considered
George their hero.
In January 1991, George went for a routine
physical examination, including chest X-rays,
which had not been taken for several years.
Doctors found that George had inoperable lung
cancer, and he was instructed to get his affairs
in order because the prognosis was not good.
George participated in a study program sponsored
by the National Institute of Health, trying
new lung cancer drugs and treatments, but
none were successful. On 22 Jul 1991, he went
to the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD,
for a chemotherapy treatment and was immediately
admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.
He remained there until his death on 28
Jul 1991. On 1 Aug 1991, George was buried
with full military honors
at Arlington National
Cemetery. Marie is also
interred there.
The major part of George’s life was spent doing what he loved— serving his country
in the Army. George was a brave and good soldier who lived by the West Point
code of “Duty, Honor, Country.” He is remembered and missed by all as a devoted
husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him.
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