World War II Honoree

Arnold O. Freas, Sr.

Hometown

Medford, New Jersey

Honored By

Harold T. Freas, Sr.

Relationship

Son

LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AND WORKED FOR METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. RETIRED IN EARLY 1939 AND TOOK HIS RETIREMENT MONEY IN A LUMP SUM TO BECOME A 'GENTLEMAN FARMER'. IN JUNE 1939, PURCHASED A POULTRY FARM IN MEDFORD, NEW JERSEY. HE DEVELOPED IT INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST EGG PRODUCING POULTRY FARMS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. WITH ALMOST 50,000 LAYING HENS, THEY PRODUCED MORE THAN 40,000 EGGS EVERY DAY. SHORTLY AFTER PEARL HARBOR, THE ARMY QUARTERMASTER PURCHASED 100 CASES PER DAY OF THE OUTPUT. THE OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION KEPT INCREASING THE PRICE OF FEED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT PERMIT HIGHER PRICES FOR EGGS. IN THE SPRING OF 1945, BEFORE THE WAR ENDED, HE SOLD THE CHICKENS AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. GAVE HIS BEST FOR THE WAR EFFORT.