Alexander Louis Arch

Sergeant Alexander Louis Arch
Sergeant Alexander Louis Arch in 1920
Nickname	Arch
Born	(1894-03-19)March 19, 1894 Potok, Austria-Hungary (now Potoc, Romania)
Died	December 9, 1979(1979-12-09) (aged 85) South Bend, Indiana
Buried	Chapel Hill Memorial Garden Osceola, Indiana
Allegiance	United States of America Indiana
Branch	United States Army
Service years	1913–1918
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Battery C, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Known for	The first American to fire an artillery cannon in the First World War
Conflicts	Mexican Border War Pancho Villa Expedition First World War Meuse–Argonne Offensive Battle of Cantigny Montdidier-Noyon Second Battle of the Marne Battle of Saint-Mihiel

Alexander Louis Arch (March 19, 1894 – December 9, 1979) was a soldier and veteran of World War I from South Bend, Indiana, who is known for being the first American to fire the first 75mm artillery shell from a French Canon de 75 modèle 1897.^[1][2]

Alexander Louis Arch was born on March 19, 1894, in the village of Potok in Austria-Hungary (now Potoc in Romania). Arch was the youngest child of Istvan Arch and Terezia Pusztai.^[3] Around 1903 Arch's family moved to the United States and lived in the city of South Bend. Arch worked at the Oliver Chilled Plow Works and the Singer Corporation before enlisting in the United States Army on June 16, 1913.^[3]

Arch officially enlisted in the Army on June 21, 1916, at Columbus Barracks in Ohio. He received basic training at Fort Douglas before serving in the Mexican Border War and the Pancho Villa Expedition.^[3] During his service in 1916 Arch received two promotions in rank, first to Corporal and later to Sergeant.^[4] Arch also received both the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his 1916 service in Mexico.^[5]

Arch's unit would be recalled into active service on April 6, 1917, when the United States entered World War I. Arch was deployed to the Western Front in France as part of Battery C of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, which would sail for France in July 1917 and arrive at the port of Saint-Nazaire.^[4][6] Arch's unit would immediately participate in the Meuse–Argonne offensive where Arch is noted as firing the first artillery shell from the American Expeditionary Forces.

On October 23, 1917, Arch's unit was in the vicinity of Réchicourt-le-Château in Moselle. Battery C of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, then under the command of the 1st Infantry Division was armed with the French 75mm Canon de 75 modèle 1897. Arch's Battery C is noted as being the first American artillery battery to fire an American artillery salvo at 6:05 A.M. at German positions nearby, Arch specifically being the soldier chosen to fire the first shell.^[6] The book Indiana Book of Merit: Official Individual Decorations and Commendations Awarded to Indiana Men and Women for Services in the World War states the following:

"The records of this Office show the first shot, marking the active American participation in the World War was fired by Battery C, 6th Field Artillery, at 6:05 A.M., on October 23, 1917. Sergeant Alex L. Arch was in command of the gun crew that fired the shot".^[6]

Arch fought in the following engagements during the war; the Meuse–Argonne offensive (September 26 – November 11, 1917), the Battle of Cantigny (May 28, 1918), the Montdidier-Noyon Defensive (June 9–13, 1918), the Second Battle of the Marne (July 15–18, 1918), and the Battle of Saint-Mihiel (September 12–16, 1918). Arch was wounded twice during the war; once on April 1, 1918, in Toul and again on May 28, 1918, in Cantigny, Somme, during the Battle of Cantigny.^[6]

On his return to the United States Arch received a three-minute standing ovation when he appeared before the United States House of Representatives and was featured as a prominent soldier alongside his cannon during the 1st Infantry Division's victory parade in New York on September 10, 1919.^[7] On September 17 Arch was treated to lunch by Indiana Senator James E. Watson and met with various senators and politicians in Washington, D.C.^[8] Arch returned to South Bend in late September 1919, his arrival at South Bend was greeted with a $2,000 parade and festivities along with a welcome home party from his family, neighbors, and friends.^{[3][9][10][11]} The Mayor of South Bend Franklin R. Carson designated October 29, 1919, as "Alex Arch Day".^[12]

Following the war Arch worked for the Studebaker Corporation which was headquartered in South Bend. In 1921 Arch was later selected by Governor of Indiana Warren T. McCray in 1921 to represent Indiana as a mourner at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery alongside Samuel Woodfill, Paul Cunningham, and Henry Strobel.^[12]

During World War II Arch was featured in several war bond advertisements alongside Carole Lombard of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lombard appeared alongside Arch at a 1941 Indiana war rally shortly before her death in January 1942.^[12]

Arch married Julia J. Rebics, they had a total of three children, one son; Alex, and two daughters; Mary and Yolanda.^[6] Arch died on December 9, 1979, at the age of 85. He is buried in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, Indiana.^[12]

Arch Avenue in South Bena is named after Alexander Louis Arch, the road is roughly 500 feet and runs through the Edgewater Place Historic District.^[12] A small exhibit is dedicated to Sergeant Arch in the Indiana War Memorial Museum in Indianapolis.