Career
Peden joined the Army from Wathena, Kansas in February 1943, and by February 3, 1945 was serving as a technician fifth grade in Battery C, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day, near Biesheim, France, his unit was ambushed by a larger enemy force. After giving medical aid to two wounded soldiers, Peden ran for help despite intense enemy fire.
He found a friendly tank and guided it to the ambush site, but was killed when the tank was hit by hostile fire.
Aged 31 at his death, Peden was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery in Troy, Kansas.