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Pelkey, Arthur E. (774th)

Arthur-Pelkey-PhotoArthur E. Pelkey

Biography:  Arthur “Art” Edward Pelkey was born on Jan. 25, 1926, in Rutland, Vermont. He was the son of Martin Pelkey and Anna Francis McGurgan. He attended the Holyoke Trade School in Massachusetts and graduated on June 18, 1944.  Three days later he was drafted into the Army on June 21st. 

Service Time:  Art entered the service at Ft. Devens, MA and was eventually assigned to the 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion as a replacement on March 1, 1945.  He remained in the Army until 1957, when he joined the Air Force. He retired from the military in 1977, after 33 years. The following link is to a document, provided to me by Art, which contains a nicely detailed history of his military career.

“My Career” by Arthur E. Pelkey

After the war, Art met and married the former Anna Mae McCarthy on September 18, 1948.  She was the daughter of Edward J. McCarthy and Agnes B. McHale of Springfield, MA. The couple made Massachusetts their home and lived in South Hadley Falls.  The new couple would have four children, Nancy, born in 1951, Arthur Jr. in 1955, John in 1957, and Janice in 1960.

Although Art made the military his career, he had other interests, which included hunting, fishing, bowling and target shooting on the military base teams.  Art was a life member of the VFW and the NRA and also a member of the American Legion, Air Force Association, Air Force Sergeants and the Retired Enlisted Associations. Art later married Minnie Inez and lived in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina.

Arthur-Pelkey-and-wife-10-12Arthur Pelkey 3

 

The photo above shows Art and his wife, Minnie, going to his unit’s reunion in October of 2012.

Art passed away on April 22, 2017, and was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Alington, Virginia. I want to thank Art for providing the information and photos for this tribute. I also was to thank Art for being a good friend and providing information and materials regarding the 774th. I also want to thank Find A Grave contributor Anne W. for providing the grave marker photo.