Michael William Scaljon Sr.

MICHAEL WILLIAM SCALJON, SR., of Memphis and Atlanta, GA, passed away Friday, May 30, 2008 after a long illness. Born in Izmir, Turkey in 1918 into a prominent Greek family, Michael, his parents, and four brothers, survived the Greek and Armenian Genocide of 1922 by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk and escaped to Greece, eventually settling in Baltimore, MA. Michael was educated in Baltimore, and planned to study art in Italy, however after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he and three of his brothers joined different branches of the U.S. military. Michael joined the Eighth Air Force while his two older brothers, Harry and Tony, joined the Army. Their youngest brother, George, joined the Navy. It was decided that the oldest brother Gus, would stay in Baltimore to take care of the brothers'widowedmother. Becausetheyoungmen volunteered for different branches of the military at the same time after Pearl Harbor, their mother, Esther Scaljon, was given the "Mother of the Year" award by the City of Baltimore. Michael saw extensive air combat untie "Mighty in the Eighth" where he was a bombardier. Michael was married to the love of his life, Victoria Harris Scaljon, of Memphis for 40 years. They enjoyed dancing and entertaining friends. They were long time members of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Memphis. Michael was a member of the Masonic Order and a Shriner. A true American hero, Michael Scaljon was a proud veteran and a Republican, and a firm believer in the Reagan tenet of "peace through strength." Michael is survived by his son, William Michael Scaljon, M.D.; daughter-in-law, Vickie Scaljon; grandson, Michael William Scaljon II; granddaughter, Mimi Scaljon Godwin; grandson-in-law, Jason Godwin, all of Atlanta, GA; and his remaining brother, George Scaljon and niece, Ester Scaljon Samios both of Baltimore, MA; his nephew, Basil Scaljon of San Antonio, TX. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA 31322, Telephone number, (912) 748-8888. Funeral services will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Memphis, TN, on Monday, June 2 at 11 a.m. Memorial Park Funeral Home 901-767-8930