Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in a family with four siblings and Barbadian ancestry on his father's side, Skinner came to the United States in 1943. He supported American values, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and fought in World War II in France, which later allowed him to obtain citizenship.
Hailing from Port of Spain, Trinidad, in a household with four siblings and Barbadian heritage on his father's side, Skinner migrated to the United States in 1943. He championed American ideals and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944, participating in World War II in France, which subsequently granted him citizenship.