In 1946, John Mazilli visited Mississippi with a plan to honor his WWII buddies. One town and one family were in for a surprise.

John Mazilli came to Mississippi in 1946 with an offer and a pledge to the family of a fallen WWII buddy. He was going to raise money to build a statue in Washington, D.C. to honor members of his infantry division. During the course of his stay in this small Mississippi town, Mazilli would guide family members and townspeople to understand life more deeply. And, he would teach himself an even more important lesson.—David Tankersley