Robert Peterson ("Uncle Bob" to me as a kid) had four sons--Ross, John, Charles, and Andrew--all of whom served during World War II. As I was growing up, I barely knew the brothers. I probably knew Charles the best and John and Andrew somewhat less. But Ross I never knew for a reason that will become obvious later.
Whenever we visited Uncle Bob, he used to grab me upon our entrance, hug me so tightly I couldn't escape, and chew on my ear. I'd finally escape, however, wiping slobbers from my ear lobe while Uncle Bob laughed.
Charles (Charlie, we called him) lived with his father and operated a farm on the hillside on McCloud Road and encompassing the area where the condominiums of Peterson Place stand today. I don't remember his talking much; he seemed to be quiet and reserved. And I guess I liked him because he never chewed on my ears.
Uncle Bob's son Andrew lived perhaps a quarter of a mile or less farther down McCloud Road from Bob and Charles. He and his wife Lucille had a long, narrow driveway that followed a gap through the hills and past rich pasture land and ended at what seemed to me to be a stately home. As I recall, Andrew was balding and sported a moustache, a feature that was rare among the Petersons whom I knew and recall today.
As I grew up, I never recall knowing much about Bob, John, Charles, or Andrew, although their names frequently occurred in family conversations and we visited them occasionally. I seldom recall, however, Ross's name being mentioned.
That all began to change with the opening of the Halls Crossroads Historical Museum (www.hchmmuseum.org) last year. When I visited the museum and entered the first room, my attention was quickly arrested by two large binders labeled "Peterson" on a shelf. Naturally, I was curious and opened them. What I discovered opened my eyes to a part of my family's history that I'd never known and that demanded further investigation.
All four of Uncle Bob's sons had been of military age during World War II and had served in the military. Andrew had served for only ten months before receiving a medical discharge. (I still don't now what his physical problem was or in what branch of the military he served.)
John served in the Navy aboard an escort destroyer and made several trips across the North Atlantic, protecting troops, supplies, and equipment bound for the European theater.
Ross had served as a nose gunner aboard B-24 Liberator bombers in the 746th Bomb Squadron, 304th Bomb Wing, 456th Bomb Group of the 15th Army Air Force based in Stornara, Italy.
And Charlie had served in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.
As I continued to peruse those binders, I learned why I had never heard about or ever seen Ross. Inside were two telegrams addressed to Robert H. Peterson. One, dated 1944 Sep 3, stated, in part, "YOUR SON STAFF SERGEANT ROSS H PETERSON HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE TWENTY TWO AUGUST OVER GERMANY." The second, dated Feb 12 1945, read, "YOUR SON STAFF SERGEANT ROSS H PETERSON WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON TWENTY-TWO AUGUST 1944 IN GERMANY."
Having won the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters, Ross was about due to come home. He took off on his fiftieth and final mission before heading home, As his B-24 Liberator, "Purple Shaft" (42-78256) completed its bombing run over an oil refinery in Blecchhammer, Germany, and turned to head back to their base, its left wing suffered a direct hit by German flak. Burning, it flipped on its back and then plunged to the earth. Eight crewmen, including Ross, were killed. The remaining two crewmen were captured and spent the rest of the war as POWs.
Charles arrived in Italy on 10 December 1944. During his deployment there, Charles was engaged in the battles of Riva Ridge, the North Apennines, and the Po Valley.
In one of the binders a the museum is a document originating in the office of Major General George P. Hayes that cites Charles "For meritorious service in combat for the period 25 March 1945 to 29 April 1945, in the Apennine Mountains and Po Valley, Italy. As a member of a heavy weapons company..., Technician Fifth Grade PETERSON performed his duties in an exemplary manner. Many times traversing heavily mined fields and enduring terrific enemy shell fire to perform his assigned tasks, he carried on regardless of personal dangers involved.... [T]he courage and determination displayed by Technician Fifth Grade PETERSON justly merit much praise and commendation."
While overseas, Charlie visited his brother Ross on several occasions since both of them were in Italy at the same time. However, he would never see him again after 22 August.
Although I really didn't know well these members of my extended family, their service deserves to be researched and their stories told, just as I told the story of my uncle's World War II experiences in Dillon's War. I hope to do just that in the coming days and months.
Stay tuned for further developments!