Lieutenant Colonel John A. Meads, Jr. began his commissioned service as a Rifle Platoon Leader at the Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Robinson, Arkansas, in 1942. | In 1944 and 1945 Lieutenant Colonel Meads saw combat in the European Theater of Operations with the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, where he attained the rank of Captain. In 1947, he joined the 12th Infantry Division (Philippine Scouts) in the Philippines. While assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard Instruction Detachment in 1950, he rose to the rank of Major. In 1951, Lieutenant Colonel Meads served with the G3 Section Headquarters, 2d Army, Fort Meade, Maryland, finishing 1951 and part of 1952 with the G3 Section, Headquarters IX Corps in Korea. | Lieutenant Colonel Meads attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and in 1953 was assigned to Office, Chief of Information as Branch Chief, Department of Army, Washington, D.C. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1955. Lieutenant Colonel Meads was assigned as Executive Officer of 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in 1956, in 1957 as Executive Officer, 1st Battle Group, 14th Infantry. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G2, Headquarters 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In 1959 Lieutenant Colonel Meads was assigned as Deputy Director, Ranger Department, The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. | Lieutenant Colonel Meads’s awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters and V Device, Army Commendation Ribbon w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster.