Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, George Stavridis enlisted during World War II and fought in Korea and Vietnam. He served in combat as a Marine Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion Commander and held numerous citations, decorations and service medals, including the Bronze Star for valor and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Stavridis was a graduate of Cornell, Purdue and Arizona State. He commanded the First Marine Battalion at Da Nang in 1967 and went on to lead the USMC Command and Staff College from 1968-1971 before retiring in 1972. He is the father of Admiral James Stavridis, Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Global Operations.