Robert B. Griffin, Jr., put a lot on hold during World War II. His law school days were interrupted when his national guard unit was called to service. And when he said goodbye to his wife Grace at Union Station in October of 1942—heading ultimately for England—she was eight months pregnant with their first child.

Griffin became the transportation officer of the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division. He made sure truckloads of ammunition and food reached front line soldiers. He saw no action, he says, unless you count the many times he ran convoys through artillery barrages.

After the war he returned to Silver Spring, finished his law degree and met his three-year old son for the first time.

"He wasn't really glad to see me," he recalls. "I was sort of an intruder and taking away his mother's affections. But we got used to each other, finally. He was a great kid—is still a great kid—although he's about 64 now."