For 125 years, Peabody & Arnold has served its clients, its community, and its country. From the firm’s beginning in 1899 to the present, many members of our firm and their extended families have bravely and honorably served in the armed forces. This proud history started with firm founder General Francis Peabody, who was the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard and founder Willard Luther, who took a sabbatical to serve under President Woodrow Wilson as part of the “Punitive Expedition” in Mexico, fighting Pancho Villa in 1916. From there, others connected to members of our firm served in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in other significant ways. Indeed, immediately following World War I and the Korean War, many if not most of our attorneys were veterans at that time.

For example, the Great Uncle of Partner Scarlett Rajbanshi, William “Cy” Douglas, served in World War I in the United States Army, and died at war while stationed in France. Partner Jennifer E. Burke’s grandfather, Raymond E. Gilman, served in the United States Army during World War II, assigned to the 90^th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army, saw action at the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the purple heart after dying in battle. Dr. Jacob Bookstein, Great Uncle of Jane Horne, Partner at Peabody & Arnold, served as Captain to the United States Army Medical Corps. in World War II and was awarded numerous medals for his service to the troops. Former partner and now Senior Counsel Phil Cronin’s two sisters and brother served in WWII; Commander Constance Cronin was in Naval Intelligence tracking Japanese war ships, Lt. Commander Pauline Cronin was an artist and in command of a group camouflaging landing craft, and Sgt. Herbert Cronin was assigned to the ski troops.

Two of our current Senior Counsel attorneys, Harvey Weiner and Allan E. Taylor, are highly decorated veterans of the Vietnam War. Harvey Weiner’s service in the Vietnam War included intelligence advisor to the South Vietnamese, Phoenix Coordinator for Chuong Thief Province, IV Corps, in the southern Mekong Delta (MACV Advisory Team #73). Attorney Weiner’s combat experience included small raids, night ambushes, mortar and rocket attacks, sniper fire, and land mines. Allan Taylor was deployed to Vietnam for ten and a half months. Attorney Taylor was stationed with the Army’s 131^st Aviation Company in Phu Bai, in the northern part of South Vietnam, where he flew aerial reconnaissance missions off the coast of North Vietnam and the northern five provinces of South Vietnam and Laos. Of Counsel Catherine Kelleher’s father, James Kelleher, was also a Vietnam veteran.

More recently, our Billing Specialist, Ramon Perez, served in the United States Marine Corps where he was one of two long-range shooters, or designated marksman, and part of the Recapture Tactics Team (RTT) Unit with Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) stationed in the state of Washington. Roy Seo, husband of associate Hanna Lee, served four years in the United States Marine Corps., which included a one-year deployment in the Asia-Pacific theater.  Sergeant Nicholas Brewster, the son-in-law of Kathy Colbert, Of Counsel at the firm, served many years with the United States Army and the Massachusetts Army National Guard, including a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan and a 1-year deployment in Iraq. Cheryl Anne Seiger, daughter of our Director of Operations, Gary Seiger, is currently a SMP ROTC cadet entering her junior year at Arizona State University. Upon graduating in May 2026, she will be commissioned into the Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant.

Peabody & Arnold continued its service from the legal perspective by spearheading the semi-annual “Wills for Veterans” program in Massachusetts. The firm has also helped draft various SCOTUS amicus briefs over the years in support of DACA soldiers and veterans; and routinely submits amicus briefs in SCOTUS cases and in other appellate court cases on behalf of ALL veterans.

This month we highlight American heroes that have ties to our firm. Please read on to see and learn more, and to honor their service and sacrifice.

General Francis Peabody Jr.
Massachusetts National Guard
Founder of Peabody & Arnold

Firm founder Francis Peabody Jr. served as Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard.  A lawyer, sportsman, businessman, and political figure, General Peabody was one of the firm’s first military heroes.

Willard Luther
United States Army, Veteran of the Pancho Villa Expedition
Founder of Peabody & Arnold

Firm founder Willard Luther took a sabbatical from Peabody & Arnold to serve under President Woodrow Wilson as part of the “Punitive Expedition” in Mexico, fighting Pancho Villa from 1916 to 1917.  Along with General Peabody, Luther was also among the firm’s first military heroes.

Harvey Weiner
United States Army, Veteran of the Vietnam War
Former Partner and current Senior Counsel at Peabody & Arnold

Attorney Weiner’s distinguished military career extends far beyond his time of service. As a student at Harvard College, he was a member of the Army R.O.T.C. and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. His experience in the Vietnam War included intelligence advisor to the South Vietnamese, Phoenix Coordinator for Chuong Thief Province, IV Corps, in the southern Mekong Delta (MACV Advisory Team #73). His combat experience included small raids, night ambushes, mortar and rocket attacks, sniper fire, and land mines. He was awarded the Bronze Star and several other service medals, including the Vietnam Service Medal with four battle stars. He returned to Fort Dix, New Jersey, in 1970 where he defended 38 courts martial and was a Chief Investigating Officer. His exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam caused two types of leukemia, thankfully in remission. Attorney Weiner’s military and war-time experiences have been chronicled in national interviews and books, and he is a frequent speaker on the subject. He has used his legal experience to help other veterans in innumerable ways, for example, through the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Veterans “Dial-a-Lawyer” programs,  an annual pro bono program in Massachusetts called “Wills for Veterans,” and has been certified as a veterans mediator. His membership and involvement in war veterans groups is likewise countless, and includes serving as National Commander for the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) of the U.S.A., and Post Commander of the largest JWV Post in New England.

Allan E. Taylor
United States Army, Veteran of the Vietnam War
Senior Counsel at Peabody & Arnold

Attorney Taylor had just finished his first year at Columbia Law School when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1968. That summer he entered Officer Candidate School, graduating first in the class and was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer. In September 1970, he was deployed to Vietnam for ten and a half months. Taylor was stationed with the Army’s 131^st Aviation Company in Phu Bai, in the northern part of South Vietnam. There he flew aerial reconnaissance missions off the coast of North Vietnam and the northern five provinces of South Vietnam and Laos. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and an Army Air Medal at the end of his tour in 1971, whereupon he returned to Columbia for his second year of law school.

Ramon Perez
United States Marine Corps.
Billing Specialist at Peabody & Arnold

Perez served in the United States Marine Corps for four years. He was one of two long-range shooters, or designated marksman, and part of the Recapture Tactics Team (RTT) Unit with Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) stationed in the state of Washington. He served in an overwatch role (or guardian angel) during nuclear convoys, working to resolve threats within or around the facilities. RTT is responsible for recapture/recovery of nuclear weapons or strategic components, and SWFPAC houses roughly 65% of the U.S., nuclear weapons as well as weapons development programs.

Roy Seo
United States Marine Corps.
Husband of Hanna Lee, Associate at Peabody & Arnold

Seo enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18 and served for four years. Most of this time he was stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina, along with a one-year deployment in the Asia-Pacific theater.

James Kelleher
United States Army, veteran of Vietnam War
Father of Catherine Kelleher, Of Counsel at Peabody & Arnold

Kelleher served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Germany. Upon his return he graduated from Fordham Law School and practiced trusts and estates law for more than 30 years in New York and New Jersey.

Sargeant Nicholas Brewster
United States Army
Massachusetts Army National Guard
Black Hawk Crew Chief
Son-in-law of Kathy Colbert, Of Counsel at Peabody & Arnold

Brewster comes from a long line of Veterans and enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from high school where he served for six years.  While in the Army, he was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Alaska and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, along with serving a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.  Brewster currently serves in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.  He recently returned in February 2024, from a one-year deployment to Iraq, which coincided with his first year of marriage.  Welcome home, Nick.

Cheryl Anne Seiger
United States Army
Daughter of Gary Seiger, Director of Operations at Peabody & Arnold

Cheryl Anne Seiger enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in early 2023.  She completed Basic Combat Training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina in the summer of 2023. She is currently a SMP ROTC cadet entering her junior year at Arizona State University where she is in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and studying Construction Management and Technology.  Upon graduating in May 2026, she will be commissioned into the Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant.

Raymond E. Gilman
United States Army, World War II
Grandfather of Jennifer Burke, Partner at Peabody & Arnold

Gilman enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and was stationed in France, assigned to the 90^th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and received the European Campaign Ribbon and three battle stars for his service in the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. The war was starting to wind down and the 90^th Infantry crossed the Rhine River and moved into what was then Czechoslovakia and encountered a German Army. Gilman was killed by cannon fire on May 1, 1945, just one week before the end of the war. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals and the Combat Infantryman badge. He left behind Burke’s grandmother, Ali, and her mother, Ruth, who was only six years old.

William “Cy” Douglas
United States Army, World War I
Great Uncle of Scarlett Rajbanshi, Partner at Peabody & Arnold

Douglas served in World War I, ultimately dying from war wounds on October 20, 1918, while stationed in France.  A very good baseball player, he was called ‘Cy” after baseball legend Cy Young. Attorney Rajbanshi’s grandfather, James Richards, is also a veteran of the Korean War.

Dr. Jacob Bookstein
United States Army, Veteran of World War II
Great Uncle of Jane Horne, Partner at Peabody & Arnold

Dr. Bookstein served as Captain to the United States Army Medical Corps. in World War II, helping any soldier or officer in need of medical care, no matter their origin.  Dr. Bookstein was awarded three medals from the European African, Middle Eastern, and American Campaigns.

Constance Cronin, Commander, United States Navy
Pauline Cronin, Lt. Commander, United States Coast Guard
Herbert Cronin, Sgt., United States Army
Sisters and brother of Philip Cronin, former Partner and current Senior Counsel at Peabody & Arnold

The Cronin siblings all served during World War II. Commander Cronin was in Naval Intelligence tracking Japanese war ships, while Lt. Commander Cronin was an artist and in command of a group camouflaging landing craft. Sgt Cronin was assigned to the ski troops.

Joseph Paul Holtslag, Private First Class, United States Army
Father-in-law of Tamara Smith Holtslag, Partner at Peabody & Arnold

John Francis Smith and Stanley Smith (served on USS Cotten (DD-669), a Fletcher-class destroyer), United States Navy, Veteran of the Korean War
Uncles of Tamara Smith Holtslag, Partner at Peabody & Arnold

USS Cotton and her celebrated history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cotten