Private Archie A. Peck, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 6, 1918 in Argonne Forest, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company A, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. Peck was 23 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing. He later rose to the rank of First Sergeant.
Peck was born on November 22, 1894 in Tyrone, Schuyler County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hornell, Steuben County, New York. Peck died on September 15, 1978 in Jamestown, New York, at the age of 83. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Sinclairville, New York. His medal is held by Founding Forward, Valley Forge, PA.
Peck is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While engaged with two other soldiers on patrol duty, he and his comrades were subjected to the direct fire of an enemy machine gun, at which time both his companions were wounded. Returning to his company, he obtained another soldier to accompany him to assist in bringing in the wounded men. His assistant was killed in the exploit, but he continued on, twice returning safely, bringing in both men, being under terrific machine-gun fire during the entire journey.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
- Born: New York — map
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Timeline
- November 22, 1894Born in Tyrone, Schuyler County, New York
- October 6, 1918Act of valor — Argonne Forest, FranceAge 23. Company A, 307th Infantry, 77th Division
- February 9, 1919Medal of Honor presentedChaumont, France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing
- September 15, 1978Died in Jamestown, New YorkAge 83.
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeterySinclairville, New York
Biography
Archie A. Peck (November 22, 1894 – September 15, 1978) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I. While serving as an infantryman in the U.S. 77th Division during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, his unit found itself surrounded in the German lines. The unit would subsequently gain the moniker "The Lost Battalion" as a result of this incident. This was the bloodiest battle of the war involving U.S. troops. Private Peck acted gallantly while surrounded, saving two wounded men under machine gun fire.
From the Wikipedia article “Archie A. Peck”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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