World War II Honoree

Victor E. Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Connellsville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY DECEMBER 3, 1941 AT NEW CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1ST INFANTRY ‘BIG RED ONE’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE UNITED STATES 1ST ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY ‘D-DAY’ TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAMED: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH, BATTLE OF NORMANDY WITH THE 1ST WAVE AT 0630 HOURS, THE ASSAULT ON THE GERMAN ARMY DEFENSES. ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE TEMPORARY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON OMAHA BEACH, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (POSTHUMOUSLY) FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.