Robert Mead

While teaching in Boston, Robert Mead was drafted into the Army in 1942 and sent to Camp Wheeler, Ga. He worked his way up to officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Ga. He was also stationed at Camp Joseph Robinson in Little Rock Ark., and trained with the Marines at Camp Pendleton in California before being sent to Europe. As both the intelligence and operations officer in the 97th Infantry Division, Mead went into battle as the Allies pushed back the Nazi army. Scouting ahead to direct artillery and interrogate prisoners, Mead earned a Bronze Star. After VE Day, Mead was sent to Japan, and when the war ended he found himself back in the role of teacher. He ran the 386th Regimental School in Urawa to help U.S. soldiers earn a high school diploma and prepare them for a return home to the peace they fought for.