DELBERT R PETERSON
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HONORED ON PANEL 5E, LINE 133 OF THE WALL

DELBERT RAY PETERSON

WALL NAME

DELBERT R PETERSON

PANEL / LINE

5E/133

DATE OF BIRTH

05/11/1939

CASUALTY PROVINCE

THUA THIEN

DATE OF CASUALTY

03/09/1966

HOME OF RECORD

MANSON

COUNTY OF RECORD

Calhoun County

STATE

IA

BRANCH OF SERVICE

AIR FORCE

RANK

MAJ

Book a time
Contact Details
STATUS

MIA

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR DELBERT RAY PETERSON
POSTED ON 12.4.2017
POSTED BY: Jo Ann Sorrentino

Bracelet

I have my pow bracelet I received when I was in my 20s I am now 73 still have the bracelet and would like to send it to any of his family members any infor would be appreciated
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POSTED ON 9.21.2017
POSTED BY: Cindy

Never Forgotten

I received Delbert Peterson's MIA bracelet in the early 70s. I wore it until it broke and have thought about him and his family often. Thank you to the family of Maj Peterson for your sacrifice.
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POSTED ON 4.14.2017
POSTED BY: Marie

Mia bracelet

I knew him not but think of him often. I wore his mia bracelet for years . I pray that he is at peace.
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POSTED ON 3.10.2017
POSTED BY: A Grateful Vietnam Veteran

Air Force Cross

*PETERSON, DELBERT RAY (MIA-KIA)
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Delbert Ray Peterson (FV-3130436), Captain [then First Lieutenant], U.S. Air Force (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Co-Pilot of an AC-47 aircraft of the 4th Air Commando Squadron (Fire Support), 14th Air Commando Wing, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, SEVENTH Air Force, in action near A Shau, Republic of Vietnam, on 9 March 1966. On that date, Lieutenant Peterson and crew responded to a desperate plea for close air support from the embattled defenders of the Special Forces Camp at A Shau. Arriving over the battle scene, Lieutenant Peterson's aircraft penetrated a four hundred foot cloud ceiling to reach the beleaguered, mountain-shrouded fort. Shortly after making a firing pass at treetop level, the aircraft's right engine was torn from its mounts by savage .50 caliber anti-aircraft fire. Second later the left engine was lost and the pilot crash-landed the aircraft on a nearby mountain slope. Realizing that the Viet Cong would soon swarm to the crash site, Lieutenant Peterson displayed an utter disregard for his own safety as he refused to abandon a badly injured fellow crew member. The Viet Cong attacked immediately but were beaten back by the downed crew. During the second assault, one crew member was killed and another seriously wounded, but again the Viet Cog were repelled. As they pressed their third attack, Lieutenant Peterson, in a last ditch effort, gallantly and heroically charged the hostile forces. The intensity of hostile fire immediately diminished. Largely through his determined resistance, rescue aircraft were able to pick up the surviving crew members. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the opposing force, Lieutenant Peterson reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-189 (July 13, 1966
Born: May 11, 1939 at Manson, Iowa
Home Town: Maple Plain, Minnesota
Personal Awards: Air Force Cross (Vietnam),. Purple Heart, 4@ Air Medals


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POSTED ON 6.25.2016
POSTED BY: Carolyn Bowden

For Delbert Peterson

During the war I wore a pow/ Mia bracelet with his name on it until it finally broke in two. I always wondered who he was and what the story was and if it would ever be told.
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