World War II Memorial - PFC William G. Peterson

 

Private First Class

William Guthrie Peterson

A young William Peterson

William was a graduate of Tiffin Twp. High School in 1943. The son of John Manford and Ethel Estella Peterson, he was born on October 28, 1924. When he filled out his draft card, he listed himself as a student with three years of high school.

A few months after graduating, he enlisted in the Army on July 24, 1943. After training at Camp Haan, California; Camp Carson, Colorado and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was deployed overseas on October 20, 1944, as a member of Company G, 398th Infantry in the 100th Division of the Seventh Army.

A farewell dinner was held for him at the home of his parents on July 20, 1943, before he entered the service and left for camp.  The Crescent-News reported that the following attended: 

"Present were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Britton daughters Marilyn and Shirley; Mrs. Jay Kelsey and son, Roland, Toledo; Mr. and Mrs. George Shepard, Montpelier; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Luke and son, Richard, and Miss Mildred Sechler, Edon; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Luke, daughters Josephine, Shirley and Donelda, Bryan; Mrs. Robert White; Miss Delores Hammon, Evansport; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crites, sons Marvin, Maynard and Lowell Dean; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crites and son Bernard; Miss Wayva Crites, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Koch, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Theil, Bryan, John W. Peterson and Donna Belle Peterson."

His unit landed in France where infantryman Peterson began his life as a soldier. According to their unit history, their Atlantic crossing was rather rough and the weather in France rainy, cold, muddy, and just miserable that November 1944.  They marched and battled through the Vosqe Mountains, ready to attack the German winter lines. With rough terrain and steep mountains, it was difficult to move forward and to get supplies in.  In December 1944, William Peterson lost his life here.

He was first reported missing and finally as killed in action. The Crescent-News reported on December 7, 1945:

"PFC PETERSON'S DEATH CAUSED BY SHELL BLAST.

Pfc William G. Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M Peterson, Rt. 1 Defiance, was killed in action near Alt Schmeitz, France on December 11, 1944, when a mortar shell fell close to the position occupied by his unit.

This information has just been received by his parents through a letter from his commanding officer, forwarded by a buddy who had made in inquiry concerning the manner of the soldier's death.

Pfc Peterson was listed as missing in action for about ten months before official notice of his death by the War Department. The parents recently received the Purple Heart awarded posthumously. The commanding officer's letter stated the Defiance soldier was not seen after the shell blast which cost his life...."

Later, in February 1946, the parents of William learned that he was also receiving the Bronze Star Medal posthumously "for heroic achievement in action, Dec. 11, 1944, in the vicinity of Alt Schmeitz, France."

"When, during the height of a determined counterattack, enemy fire severed the single wire line between the company command post and the rear," the citation relates, "Pvt. Peterson voluntarily left his dugout and began tracing the ruptured line.

Despite the continued hostile artillery fire, he located the break, repaired it, and started back. As a result of Pvt. Peterson's magnificent courage, initiative, and aggressiveness, communications were reinstated, enabling our forces to successfully resist the attackers."

The Crescent-News reported that on September 13, 1948, his body was brought home for burial. On September 16, 1948, his funeral was held, and he was buried in Evansport Cemetery.

Rhonda Casler, Researcher