John Peter Skoro - KIA

Preferred Name: Junior
Nickname/Call Sign: Animal
Date of Birth: February 3, 1942
Highest Military Grade: 0-2 – First Lieutenant
Hometown: Gary, IN
Headed West Date: September 13, 1966

John captained the 1962-63 USAF Academy Falcons fencing team to a 10-0 regular season record bringing the team to 39 victories in a row over 4 seasons. He was nicknamed Animal due to his cat-like reflexes and killer instinct with a blade. He earned All American honors in 1963 in Saber and was named Fencer of the Year at the NCAA Nationals. (1)

While flying F-100 #56-3071 on a strike mission to an automatic weapon position near Phu Xuan, 20 miles north of Phu Cat, 1Lt Skoro’s aircraft was hit by ground fire as it pulled up to 4,000 feet.

Lt. Skoro was married at the time of his death.

John is buried at the USAFA Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. His name is inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 10e, Line 93.

Sources: Photo/Bio info- HonorStates.org; Findagrave.com; (1) vvmf.org; TogetherWeServed.com;