Jay Sandy Shartzer was born to Ausel and Eva Fentress Shartzer on February 25, 1930 in Caneyville, Grayson, Kentucky. In 1947, Jay enlisted in the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1951. In April 1948, Shartzer married Ruby Mae Hall in Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States and had two daughters. Shartzer served in the 593d Transportation Traffic Regulation Detachment during the Korean War. As a result of his service he received the Meritorious Unit Commendation award for providing outstanding service in support of combat operations in Korea from Oct. 16, 1952 to July 28, 1953. In 1955, Shartzer married Japanese secretary Emiko Iwasaki and had four children. After the Korean War, Shartzer became a Senior Army Aviator, piloting multiple U.S. Army fixed and rotary-winged aircraft as both a maintenance and instructor pilot. He later retired in Fort Eustis, Virginia in 1969 and focused on academics receiving education from the University of Maryland, William & Mary, University of Arkansas, George Mason, and Old Dominion University. As a result of his education he became an MBA graduate, professor of accounting, law school student, and doctoral candidate. Shartzer died on December 30, 2008 in Hampton, Virginia.