World War II Honoree

John M. Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Viborg, South Dakota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY JANUARY 21, 1942 AT FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 120TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 30TH INFANTRY ‘OLD HICKORY’ DIVISION, U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY, HE WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY AND ENTERED COMBAT JUNE 11, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1944 DURING THE BREAK-THROUGH IN THE BATTLE FOR ST. LO, FRANCE. HE DIED IN THE VICINITY OF HEBECREVON, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL POSTHUMOUSLY.