Nicholas J. Bouras enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. By the end of 1945, he had attained the rank of Major, had flown forty-four combat missions in the European theater as the lead bombardier/navigator in B-26 and A-26 bombers, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals and five Battle Stars. After his discharge from the service, he returned to his work in the steel industry. He has received numerous awards for his philanthropic and humanitarian work.