Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Thomas Pesco Arbige, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and served as a military policeman in Europe.
Thomas Arbige joined the Army from Rhode Island as soon as he turned 18. After finishing basic training in Florida, he left for England, and then served in France as a military policeman.
Arbige fought in the Battle of the Bulge in late January 1945. His squad was among the first to cross the Rhine River and the Rhineland Offensive in February. Arbige also served in Czechoslovakia and Germany as part of the 346th Infantry Military Police. He was in Plauen, Germany, as part of the city’s occupational forces when the war ended on May 5.
During his service, Arbige earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He left the Army in July 1946.
After leaving the Army, Arbige became a police officer in his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. He retired in 1978. Outside of work, he served as a sexton for his local church and was active in the Fraternal Order of Police Trade Union.
Arbige died in August 2006. He was 80.
We honor his service.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
Contributors
Writer: Jessica Flores
Editor: Michelle Cannon
Fact checker:
Graphic artist: Tenzin Chomphel
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We honor the service of Thomas Arbige.