Special to the OBSERVER

SINCLAIRVILLE — The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. It was 100 years ago on Oct. 6, 1918 that the actions of Sinclairville resident Archie A. Peck would make him one of only 121 men to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War I.

The war in Europe had been raging for three years when the United States entered on the side of the allies in April of 1917, but it would be May of 1918 before the American Expeditionary Force was ready to begin active combat operations. On Sept. 26 the Meuse-Argonne Offensive started and was going well for the Americans, but the terrain in the Argonne Forest is ideally suited for defense and the Germans had turned it into a veritable fortress. Archie Peck was serving in Company A, 1/307th Infantry, 77th Division. They were part of a push on Oct. 2 to take the Binarville-La Vietgette Road. Their goal was to take Hill 198, a high point near their objective. They reached the peak of the hill and were now in control, but unknown to them, the French on their left flank had been counterattacked by the Germans and had fallen back and at the same time on their right flank an American Division was also being forced to fall back. With both their flanks exposed, they were surrounded. They dug in and for the next six days experienced a ferocious series of attacks occurring from all sides, many with hand-to-hand combat. There was constant shelling, to include an inadvertent barrage by American Artillery. There was not any way to be resupplied and food, medical supplies and ammunition were running out.

When they were finally relieved on Oct. 8, only 194 of the over 500 in “the pocket” were able to walk out. Their plight would forever have them known as “the lost battalion.” In what was to be the bloodiest engagement for the Americans in World War I, there occurred many acts of gallantry. It was to earn Sergeant (then Private) Archie A Peck the Congressional Medal of Honor. The ceremony was presided over by General John J Pershing, Commander of the United States Expeditionary Force.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy in the Argonne Forest, France, on October 6. 1918. While engaged with two other soldiers on patrol duty, Private Peck and his comrades were subjected to the direct fire of an enemy machine gun, at which time both of 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.

Born on Nov. 22, 1894, Archie Peck was a native of Tyrone, New York. Returning from the war he was employed by the A&P Tea Store in Jamestown. He married Agnes C. Palmer on June 27, 1925 and in the same year was promoted, rising to assistant superintendent of the Buffalo area for the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. They were able to purchase the Mansfield and Ervin Grocery on Main Street in Sinclairville in 1937 and naming it A.A. Peck’s General Store. A house on Park Street would now be the home for their family of five boys. A successful businessman, he was also very active in his community, being a member of the Sinclairville Fire Department, a member and past Commander of Sinclairville American Legion Post No. 778 (named for Sinclairville WWI casualty David Vern Luce), a member of World War I Ridgewood Grove Barracks Post 2533, a member of VFW memorial Post 8155 , a member of the First Baptist Church of Sinclairville and serving on the Cassadaga Valley Central School Board.

Archie died on Sept. 15, 1978 at age 83 and is buried with Agnes, his wife of 53 years, in the Sinclairville Evergreen Cemetery. In 1992 he was honored by having a VFW Post named for him, The Archie A. Peck C.M.H. Memorial Post No. 10869 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Sinclairville is proud to have been home to Archie Peck, a man who honorably served his family, his community and his country.

The village of Sinclairville and the Sinclairville Free Library invite the public to a recognition event for Archie Peck with the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 on Saturday, Oct. 6 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery in Sinclairville. A community walk through the village to the library will follow as part of the Community Walks grant program. A reception at the library, a display honoring Archie Peck’s military service and viewing of the movie The Lost Battalion will conclude the event.