Posted by Lorrin Peterson on October 16, 2001:

Archie and I were stationed together in Berlin, Germany, Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS, and Wright Patterson. I remember that he had more confidence in me than I had. In Berlin he asked me if I wanted to be his assistant defense counsel at a special court martial. I said I only knew what they taught us in one semester of military law at West Point. He said that was enough, and away we went. I don't remember if we won the case, but I know that I made enough of an impression to be put on orders on ensuing trials as defense counsel. Later I became the Base Legal Officer and Provost Marshal. It was a very satisfying career diversion and I helped a lot of soldiers. I remember landing a C-47 in a blinding snowstorm at Tempelhof with Archie at the controls. We missed the first approach, but he cooly went around and found the flares at the end of the runway on the second attempt. Before we left Templehof, the Sergeant Major told my wife Ollie, the Base Adjutant's secretary, that there were only two real officers on the base--Patterson and Peterson. We were both old G.I.s and spoke their language. We both wanted to go to Harvard Law from Topeka--Archie was even on orders, but they were cancelled because the Air Corps already had enough lawyers hiding out on aircrews. He often came to see me and tell stories about Forbes AFB. He even helped me get rides in the general's B-17 when I needed flying time. An officer and a gentleman; I miss him.

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