"The clearance and the briefing made you feel that you were carrying the weight of the world." (Memoir)

Arthur H. Klobe

Cover of Memoir [detail] War: World War II, 1939-1946 Branch: Army Unit: Headquarters, 1st Army Service Location: Bristol, England; Normandy, France Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Place of Birth: Young America, MN

The U.S. entered World War II six months after Arthur Klobe graduated from college, and his ROTC training gave him an advantage. Already an officer in the Army Reserve, his aptitude for anti-aircraft technology got him noticed by his superiors. Not long after he arrived in England in 1943, Klobe became involved in planning the Normandy Invasion, receiving the highest security clearance. Klobe spent June 6 on a ship just off the Normandy coast, but the next day, he and another officer waded ashore. While under fire the two men guided troops toward support vessels carrying much-needed reserves of ammunition.