HONORED ON PANEL 5E, LINE 133 OF THE WALL
DELBERT RAY PETERSON
WALL NAME
DELBERT R PETERSON
PANEL / LINE
5E/133
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
STATUS
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
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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