APSU hosts Mel Mayfield: “Experience During World War II”

Austin Peay State University Student Life and Leadership and International Education present a lecture, titled “Experience During World War II in France and Germany” by Mel Mayfield.

Presented as part of the Global Govs Passport Series, the lecture will take place at 11:30 a.m., Monday, April 21 in Memorial Health Gym (formerly known as the Red Barn).

Mayfield is a World War II veteran and served in the 44th Division, 71st

Infantry, Cannon Company in France and Germany. During the war he served on the front lines firing cannons. He also worked as a radio operator for a forward observer at an observation post.

Prior to serving in the Army, Mayfield taught elementary school. He obtained his teacher’s certificate at Western Kentucky State Teacher’s College in 1940. Upon leaving the Army in 1946, Mayfield returned to college and double majored in physics and English. After graduation, Mayfield accepted a teaching position at Mercer University.

Mayfield began teaching physics at APSU in 1957. He was instrumental in organizing APSU’s Department of Physics and served as the first chair of the department. Mayfield still teaches physics at APSU as a professor emeritus.

Dr. Dewey Browder, professor and chair of the history department at APSU and a friend of Mayfield’s, will also speak at the event.

For more information, contact Leslie Cragwall with APSU Student Life and Leadership, (931) 221-7431.