World War II Honoree

Archibald Vincent Arnold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Collinsville, Connecticut

Honored By

John Peterson

HE WAS THE SECOND IN COMMAND OF THE 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION DURING THE BATTLE OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. HE CONTINUED SERVING AS SECOND-IN-COMMAND OF THE 7TH UNTIL 1944. HE WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 7TH DURING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS CAMPAIGN AND THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA. HE RECEIVED THE ARMY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL FOR HIS WWII SERVICE. AFTER THE WAR HE WAS MADE THE MILITARY GOVERNOR OF KOREA. HE SERVED AS PRINCIPAL AMERICAN DELEGATE TO THE US-USSR JOINT COMMITTEE THAT CONVENED IN SEOUL, KOREA, IN JANUARY 1946, AND THEN TO THE U.S.-USSR JOINT COMMISSION THAT FOLLOWED IN APRIL 1946. THE PRIMARY TASK OF THE JOINT COMMISSION WAS TO REUNITE NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA AFTER IT WAS DIVIDED BY THE STATE WAR NAVY COORDINATING COMMITTEE (SWNCC) IN 1945.