World War II Honoree

Harold R. Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ontario, Oregon

Honored By

Imogene Peterson

Relationship

Wife

SERVED WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 459TH BOMB GROUP, 758TH BOMB SQUADRON. FLIGHT ENGINEER, ON AUGUST 29, 1944 (26TH MISSION), B-24 WAS SHOT DOWN. AFTER BAILING OUT, HE WAS CAPTURED AND INTERNED AT STALAG LUFT IV IN POLAND UNTIL FEBRUARY 6, 1945. THEN ALONG WITH MORE THAN 6000 PRISONERS OF WAR, HE WAS FORCED TO MARCH FOR 90 DAYS, COVERING MORE THAN 500 MILES BACK INTO GERMANY. ON APRIL 29, 1945, LIBERATED BY ELEMENTS OF THE 1ST DIVISION, U.S. ARMY. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL AND THE AIR MEDAL.