Isidor (Issaak) Meites

Isidor Meites was born in 1918 in Kishinev, Russia to Ben and Freda Meites. He immigrated, with his parents, to America in 1920 and lived in St. Joseph, MO. He completed grade and high school and community college in St. Joseph and was in the national honors society and valedictorian of his classes. He was greatly interested in many different subjects and excelled in all. He had unusual understanding of people, was always kind and considerate and was greatly admired and respected by all who knew him.

  Isidor received a B.S. and Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry at the University of Missouri, Cum Laude in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army just prior to the declaration of the Second World War and was almost immediately sent to the Philippines. His battalion had very little training, was poorly equipped, and was ill prepared for the battles they had to face after Pearl Harbor. He sustained injuries, developed malaria, and was very ill when he and his battalion of 120 men had to surrender to the Japanese. They were subjected to the “infamous” Death March” of Bataan which he survived but died ten days later. He received two Purple Hearts. His remains were returned to his parents in St. Joseph where he was buried at the Shaare-Sholem Cemetery. (by Mable Meites)