J. Arthur “Archie” Kieffer proudly served his nation in the United States Army during the Second World War as a member of the Army Air Corps in Italy as a B-24 Aerial Gunner with the 459th Bombardment Group, 756th Bomb Squadron.
Archie participated in battles for the North Apennines, Po Valley, Rhineland and Central Europe and was awarded the Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the European Service Ribbon with 4 Campaign Stars. While in the military, Archie was also an Army Dog Trainer.
Upon his discharge from the Army in 1945, he held the rank of Sergeant.
Following his return to Chemung County shortly after the war, Archie became a Master Mason and subsequently worked on and supervised the construction and repair of many buildings throughout Chemung County.
His public service in Chemung County began in 1966 with the Building and Grounds Department. As the department’s superintendent, Archie personally designed and guided the renovation of many of the County’s public buildings, including the Hazlett Building and Park Station, with an eye to the future, attention to detail and love of country.
Archie’s service to Chemung County continues to this day as Chemung County Historian – a position from which he proudly and diligently chronicles and preserves local history for future generations. He has authored four books on Chemung County and, in 2011, received the prestigious “Franklin D. Roosevelt Local Government Historian Professional Achievement Award” from the Association of Public Historians of New York State.
Always an active citizen, with a particular commitment to local veterans, Archie has been and remains a revered member of many community and civic organizations.
