THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sp4 Jerry Peterson, Thank you for your service as a Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was the 46th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and it is still sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Somewhere I've got a photo of Jerry goofing around a "twin 40 duster", hanging from the barrels like some kinda chimp with a big smile...good kid.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

At approximately 2315 on March 23, 1969, two U.S. Army ordinance support units based in the same area about 5 miles southwest of Qui Nhong, Binh D?nh Province, RVN, were attacked by an unknown size enemy force. The enemy attacked with small arms and automatic weapons fire. Contact with the enemy was lost at an unreported time when the attackers withdrew. No enemy were reported to have penetrated the perimeter and enemy losses were unknown. A fire was started during the action which resulted in an ammunition storage area exploding. Three U.S. personnel from the 184th Ordnance Battalion were killed in the blast. They included CAPT William J. Ahlum, SP5 Michael L. Berry, and, SP4 Jerry L. Peterson. CAPT Ahlum was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic actions during the attack by exposing himself to danger while searching for wounded personnel and damaged equipment. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

I knew Jerry's mom, Jane, in the 70's and early 80's. Not a day went by that she didn't mention his name, and was still mad about his death years later. She had a large, beautiful painting (of Jerry sitting in a Jeep) hanging on her wall. She eventually moved to Florida, and passed away in 2005, and I wonder where that painting is now.