Purple Heart and Case
Indicative Object
Identifier:
OBJ.N.2022.5
Description
An original case with a Purple Heart Medal inscribed "For Military Merit. Joseph D. Peters" and a Purple Heart lapel pin. Most likely Peters received his Purple Heart in 1932 or shortly thereafter, when the award was first created and many WW I veterans who had received a so-called "wound chevron" for sustained injuries were awarded the medal. Peters certainly seems to have fallen in that category. In 1919, the Old Town Enterprise reports that Joe Peters was discharged after he had been moved to serve behind the front lines because he had lost an eye as a result of an "accident" on the so-called Chemin des Dames, a historic route in northern France along which many WW I battles were fought. According to the 1919 Old Town Enterprise article, Joseph was in the 103rd Infantry Regiment (= 2nd of Maine until April 13, 1917) along with his brother "Gussie," (= John Angus Peters (1895-1962)) and their military records confirm that the brothers enlisted in the 103rd Infantry Division (Company I) in Eastport (ME), on April 14, 1917. Gussie was discharged as a private 1st class on April 14, 1919 at Camp Devens (MA), while Joseph was discharged as an ordinary private on April 4th, 1919 in St. Louis (MI). More than a year prior, in a letter to their mother dated April 6, 1918 that was also published in the Old Town Enterprise two month later, Gussie mentions that Joseph was in the hospital because of a "sore eye" due to "a fall coming from the trenches." Gussie also writes that Joe was fine and would be out of hospital soon, but maybe he just did not want to have their mother worry.