Peter Kurpeawski
Honoree Profile
US Army
Master Sergeant Peter Kurpeawski, a resident of Cornwall, New York, spent 30 years in the United States Army, including two tours in Iraq. He retired with the 10th Mountain Division in 2010.
Master Sergeant Kurpeawski entered United States Basic Training in October 1980 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and trained as Motor Transport Operator. In May 1981, he was assigned to the 773rd Transportation Company in Fairfield, Connecticut.
In 1986, Master Sergeant Kurpeawski attended Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 101st Airborne. He attended Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Warfare School in 1992 in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, and Military Police School in 1993, at Rhode Island Military Academy, in Narragansett. In 1994, he transferred to the 812th Military Police Company in Orangeburg, New York. In November 2001, he transferred to the 10th Mountain Division, 10th MP Battalion, in Fort Drum, New York, and was reassigned to the 812th M.P. Company in September 2002.
In January 2003, Master Sergeant Kurpeawski was assigned to the 310th MP Battalion for “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and deployed to Iraq in March 2003, assigned to the 1st Marine Division. In August 2003, he was reassigned to 101st Airborne in Mosul, serving as a Platoon Sergeant. He was reassigned to the 812th MP Company in 2004.
In March 2008, 812th MP Company Master Sergeant Kurpeawski deployed to Iraq, assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Fallujah. He served as 812th MP Company Operations Sergeant, and was redeployed to Mosul in May 2009.
Master Sergeant Kurpeawski was reassigned to the 812th MP in June 2009 before retiring in 2010. He has received many military awards, including two Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal 2nd Award, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal 3rd Award and Air Assault Wings.
Master Sergeant Kurpeawski has been a member of the American Legion Post #353 in Cornwall since 2004 and Commander since 2011. He helped create the Cornwall Medal of Honor Memorial in 2015 and has been involved in the renovation of the Civil War Cannon at Veterans Triangle. He is responsible for all ceremonial events including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day and Medal of Honor Day.
