Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Orville
Anderson
Petty
1874-02-20

–

1942-08-13

Born:

Harrison

, 

Ohio

Home:

Philadelphia

, 

Pennsylvania

Buried: 

New Haven

, 

Connecticut

Cemetery:

Beaverdale Memorial Park

Orville Petty’s twin brother Orlando Petty earned the Medal of Honor while serving as a Navy medical officer in World War I. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College in 1898, Orville attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1901. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy and Education from Yale in 1915. He served as Chaplain of 2d Connecticut Infantry on the Mexican border in 1916 and then with the 102d Infantry in World War I. He received a Doctor of Divinity from Yale in 1919. After serving in World War I, he was Chaplain of the 169th Infantry from 1921 to 1938, retiring as a colonel.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    102d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    April 20, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 4 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Orville Anderson Petty, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Petty distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 102d Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Seicheprey, France, 20 April 1918, in evacuating the wounded and burying the dead under heavy shell fire.