The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-26
SERGEANT PECK, WELL KNOWN
HERE, TO RETIRE This MONTH

In recent issue of the Sunda!
Times of New Brunswick, n. J.
there appeared an article relative
to the proposed retirement o
Sergeant Ernest D. Peck, who i!
well known in Key West.
Sergeant Peck married Mis-.
Jennie levin, daughter of Mrs
Harriet: levin, and was station
ed at the US Army post here
during the time.
The article in question follows
UNLESS President Roosevelt de.
clares a national emergency, re,
tanning all experienced officer.
and men, Ernest D. Peck, of High
land Park, a master sergeant
will retire from the army on De-
cember 81, with 80 years and
seven months of service to MS
credit. For 18 years he has been
stationed at Rutgers in the mill
tary science department.
Mr.. Peck was on his way
home to Plainfield in 1903 after
wandering about the west when
he stopped off at Pittsburgh, Pa.
ard applied for entrance to the
army. He was sent to Columbus,
O.. and from there to Key West.
Fla, where he served until 1916
when he left the service.
y The World War found MIR.
Peck al once applying for enlist
ment. He was sent to officers
training at Camp Gordon, Ga.
where he qualified for a commits
sion. But the war ended before
he could get into action under his
new rank
1T was early in the war that
Mr. Peck made the classic re-
Spouse for all men denied service
II France. A woman came to him,
bemOaning, that her son had been
sent overseas. She looked Peck
up and down, then demanded:
How is it that big, husky
men like you are left home and
my son sent across?'
Lady. Peck snapped. the
government keeps the bright ones
home to train the others.
Returns To Key West
Following discharge from Off
GERS training camp, Mr.. Peck
went to Key West where his wife
and two children were living.
But he was soon back in the army
and on recruiting duty in Trenton
and Camden. From Camden he
went back on regular duty at
Fort Mott. this state New Jer-
Sey), then was transferred to Fort
Du Pont. Del. A tour at Fort
Hancock. N. j., followed, with re-
ief to detached service at Cover
nor's Island, N. Y.
'It was in September, 1922, that
Sergeant Peck came to Rutgers
University where he has served
up to the present time with dis
tinctiOn, being raised in rank to
staff sergeant, then to technical
and last to master sergeant, the
highest non-commissioned rank.
This is decided attainment. for
regulations, from which there is
no appeal. allow but two master
Sergeants in this, the Second
Corps Area, and one of these is
at headquarters, Governors Is
land.
Sergeant Peck treasures IL
discharges with character excel
lent throughout the entire list
He was made a sergeant during
his first enlistment, a real achieve
ment in those days of a small
army with consequent keen COM
petition for Advancement. Early
IN his Serice, he completed in
Struction in all the schools. such
as Elements of Military Typo
graphy'. which included sketch
ing and field engineering. Tnfan-
try Drill Regulations. Tactical
and Technical Training. consist
ing of practical instruction in war
games and coast artillery gun
merry; Military Law. Military
Courtesy. Leadership, Discipline
and Control of Men.