During World War I , Mesrobian was drafted into the Ottoman army and became a decorated soldier . He participated in the Gallipoli Campaign and served in the Eastern front against the Russians during the Caucasus Campaign and the Arabs during the Arab Revolt . During this time , the Armenian Genocide began , and his family in his native Afyonkarahisar were deported and never to be heard of again . Mesrobian lost fifteen members of his family as a result of the genocide . He was held captive under the Arabs but was ultimately freed with the help of T. E. Lawrence ( Lawrence of Arabia )
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Mihran Mesrobian