born in lawrence, massachusetts in 1919 to lebanese-american parents, he grew up in new bern, north carolina with his three sisters. he first attended north carolina state university in raleigh, north carolina, then transferred to georgetown college in kentucky to be closer to his future wife. he starred in football and baseball, and studied zoology and botany before dropping out to join the united states army air forces. in a war department document dated september 26, 1941, he is listed as a second lieutenant and pilot in the air corps reserve.