Background
Peterson was born in Prentice, Wisconsin, and enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1920.
Peterson was born in Prentice, Wisconsin, and enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1920.
After his initial training, he spent his entire Navy career of over twenty years on sea duty aboard various ships. He was assigned to the United States Ship Neosho, an oiler ship operating in the Pacific theater. On May 7, 1942, during the, the Neosho was heavily damaged by Japanese dive bombers.
Despite his injuries, he managed to close four bulkhead steam line valves, but suffered third-degree burns to his face, shoulders, arms and hands in the process.
By shutting the valves, Peterson isolated the steam to the engine room and helped keep the ship operational. The Neosho eventually sank on May 11, and the surviving crewmen were picked up by another ship.
Peterson died of his burn injuries on May 13 and was buried at sea, several hundred miles off the coast of Australia. Instead, the medal and accompanying certificate were mailed to his widow.
Foreign extraordinary courage and conspicuous heroism above and beyond the call of duty while in charge of a repair party during an attack on the United States.S. Neosho by enemy Japanese aerial forces on 7 May 1942.
His spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty, characteristic of a fine seaman, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. Rear Admiral James A. Symonds presented the medal and a forty-eight star United States. flag to Peterson"s surviving son, Fred.
A military-issued memorial marker for Peterson was placed in Richfield Cemetery the same day.
The United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Peterson was named in his honor.
In one bombing raid, Peterson and members of the repair party he led were severely wounded. Lacking assistance because of injuries to the other members of his repair party and severely wounded himself, Peterson, with no concern for his own life, closed the bulkhead stop valves and in so doing received additional burns which resulted in his death.