As a young American soldier in World War II, Steven J. Poulos took five German machine-gun bullets while storming Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, and lived to tell about it.
But Saturday afternoon, the 80-year-old Poulos was found by family shot dead in his Holladay home. The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is treating the death as a homicide.
On a quiet winding street, yellow police tape roped off the house as investigators talked to neighbors standing outside to find out if anyone saw or heard any commotion.
Poulos was found on the floor of his home, near 2500 E. 4800 South, by his wife and visiting family members around 1:35 p.m.
"Initially, it looked like a medical problem but they turned him over and found a bullet hole," said Salt Lake County Sheriff's spokesman Paul Jaroscak. Investigators are ruling out suicide due the the location of the bullet wound, Jaroscak said.
Another mystery is an automobile that is missing from the residence. Jaroscak said family members reported that a maroon 1997 Subaru Legacy was being kept at the home by Poulos for an acquaintance. "We've contacted the car's owner who said the vehicle should be there but it's not," Jaroscak said.
Police are on the lookout for the vehicle, which has California plates with the number 4KOB631. Anyone with information can contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office at 743-7000.
Friends and neighbors were reeling from the shock of the news. They described Poulos and his wife, Billie Loukas, as well-respected members of their neighborhood and among the Greek Orthodox community.
Although their last names are spelled differently, Jaroscak confirmed that Poulos is the cousin of well-known auto dealer Gus Paulos, who died of cancer on Jan. 1 at age 64.
Poulos was well known for his distinguished military service and his wit.
"It's a great tragedy and great shock for us all," said Father Michael Kouremetis with the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake. "Steve has been a life-long member."
After meeting with the family earlier, Kouremetis said the Poulos family is coping the best they can with the tragedy and that the church community has gathered to support them.
"He was a war hero and was injured in D-Day. He spent a lifetime in the car business and was an active parish member," said William Souvall, second vice president of the church's Parish Council. "He was very outgoing and charismatic. He always had a funny story to tell and was a pleasure to be around. I can't believe it."
Neighbors said they found it hard to believe someone would want to harm Poulos. "Steve was a charmer," said next-door neighbor Ralph Love, standing with his wife, Sherrie Love, outside their home. "They were the most super neighbors, very kind and very caring," Sherrie Love said.
Sherrie Love said she was outside spreading bread crumbs for squirrels when she saw the ambulance. Poulos' daughter was in complete shock, the couple said. The couple also said they neither saw nor heard anything suspicious Saturday afternoon.
Poulos' wife also is known in the community for her singing voice and community service. Loukas is a noted opera singer and former public relations director for the Utah Opera and Ballet West.
Poulos also was well-known among veterans' groups, having taken five bullets during the war — one in the leg, one in the back, two in the side and another in the neck. Poulos used to say one of those bullets would have been fatal but was deflected by the gold cross he wore around his neck.
Poulos spent two days pinned down on Omaha Beach and that was after his unit — the 29th Infantry Division — struggled to make it to land after its landing craft, fearing mines, dropped them 100 yards away from shore. Some in the division drowned.
The water was deep and Poulos went straight for the bottom until he cut his gear loose and surfaced. A champion swimmer at South High, he survived the swim, crawled onto shore, took a rifle from the hands of an already-dead G.I. and ducked.
He was awarded a purple heart, bronze medal, combat infantry badge and a blue ribbon citation, according to the Daily Utah Chronicle.
Poulos is expected to be the focus of a documentary exploring the stories of Utah veterans. Jeff Panos, producer for the KUED series "Utah War Stories," said Poulos' story of heroism is the stuff of legends. "He was just one of the guys that you would find in 'Saving Private Ryan,' " Panos said. The series is expected to air next March.
Poulos had said he was not sure how he made it. "I didn't think I would come out of it," Poulos told the Deseret Morning News in 2002. "A lot of guys didn't. We had to fight like hell to get the hell off that beach."
After coming home from WWII Poulos married Loukas and worked in car sales.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com