Carl Jerrold Peterson

Carl Jerrold Peterson (31 October 1936 – 2 April 1969) was a United States Navy Lieutenant Commander and the commanding officer of Patrol River Boat Squadron 57. He was killed in action in Vietnam and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1975, the United States Navy named the USS Peterson in his memory.

Carl J. Peterson
Birth nameCarl Jerrold Peterson
Born(1936-10-31)31 October 1936
Tuxedo Park, New York, US
Died2 April 1969(1969-04-02) (aged 32)
Tây Ninh Province, South Vietnam
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1958 – 1969
Rank Lieutenant Commander
Service number624901
UnitUSS McCaffery
USS Arneb
USS Ogden
Commands heldPatrol River Boat Squadron 57
Battles/warsVietnam War †
Awards
Bronze Star Medal
Navy Commendation Medal

Biography
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

Carl Jerrold Peterson was born 31 October 1936 to Captain Carl A. Peterson, USN, Ret. (1908 – 1996) of Tuxedo Park, New York and Miriam C. Redden-Peterson (1909 – 2010), daughter of Connecticut State senator William A. Redden. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1958.[1] According to his Academy Yearbook and the Bridgeport Post, he was from Bridgeport, Connecticut and lived at 388 Midland for much of his youth.[2][3] He was said to "play a mean attack on the lacrosse field" and he was a valuable member of the crew of the USNA's yacht, Freedom.[4]

Lieutenant Commander Peterson then served successive tours at sea in USS McCaffery and USS Arneb. In 1962, he was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and in 1964 to the staff of Commander Middle East Force. From 1966 to 1968 Lieutenant Commander Peterson served as Operations Officer aboard USS Ogden and participated in eight major amphibious assaults against enemy forces in Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Peterson was credited with developing the command and control techniques for debarking troops simultaneously by air and sea amphibious transports successfully employed in these assaults.[1]

In December 1968, Lieutenant Commander Peterson volunteered for duties in Vietnam and subsequently commanded Patrol River Boat Squadron 57 operating in the waterways of the Mekong Delta. According to the US Navy, Carl Peterson was singularly responsible for the success of many joint quick reaction operations designed to draw out and destroy enemy forces. On 2 April 1969, while embarked in an assault support patrol boat transiting the Vàm Cỏ Đông River to his command center in USS Harnett County, Lieutenant Commander Peterson was mortally wounded when an enemy rocket detonated against his vessel.[1]

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[5]

Awards and honors

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device (awarded posthumously) and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.[1] USS Peterson was named in his honor. His name is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Panel 27W, Row 1.[6]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy document: "LCDR Carl Jerrold Peterson".

  1. "LCDR Carl Jerrold Peterson". USS Peterson (DD-969). Archived from the original on 9 May 2001. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. "Midshipmen Gain Commissions Today". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. 4 June 1958.
  3. Robert Zarnetske (12 July 1975). "Navy's Newest Destroyer Carries Name of Bridgeport Native". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. p. 28.
  4. US Naval Academy Yearbook. 1958. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. Run to Honor
  6. "Carl J. Peterson". The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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