George Styskal was born on January 12, 1921 in New York City. After graduating from Rutgers Prep, he began college at William & Mary before joining the Army Air Corp in 1943. He was eventually assigned to B-25's as a radio operator/waist gunner in the 12th Air Force, 340th Bombardment Group first assigned to North Africa and eventually to Sicily and then, Italy. He flew a total of 76 missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross on May 3, 1945, the Air Medal in September 1944 and the Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged in September 1945 as a technical sergeant.