Lt. Spiros "Steve" Pisanos (autographed by Col. Steve Pisanos)

Born in Athens, Greece, Lt. Pisanos came to America in 1938, and in August 1941, not yet a U.S. citizen, joined the RAF. Transfering to the USAAF in September 1942, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces, and in the following May became an American Citizen, the first ever to become such outside the continental U.S. by March 5, 1944 Lt. Pisanos was an ace credited with seven confirmed victories. Following the war Steve Pisanos served as a test pilot at wright Field; Ohio and was assigned to USAF HQ serving with NATO in Italy from 1952 to 1954. He saw duty with NORAD, Air Defense Command and USAF Europe in addition to a tour in Vietnam 1967-1968, before retiring as a Colonel in 1973. Decorations; Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 OLCS, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 8 OCLS, and the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, British Star and Aircrew medals, and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor First Class.