Frank E. Peterson passes

| September 1, 2016

Frank Peterson

Instinct sends us a link to the New York Times which reports the sad news that the first black Marine Corps general, Frank E. Peterson has passed at the age of 83 a year ago this week.

Frank E. Petersen Jr., who suffered bruising racial indignities as a military enlistee in the 1950s and was even arrested at an officers’ club on suspicion of impersonating a lieutenant, but who endured to become the first black aviator and the first black general in the Marine Corps, died on Tuesday at his home in Stevensville, Md., near Annapolis. He was 83.

The cause was lung cancer, his wife, Alicia, said.

[…]

[I]n 1952, Mr. Petersen…was commissioned as a second lieutenant and the Marines’ first black aviator. He would go on to fly 350 combat missions during two tours, in Korea and Vietnam (he safely bailed out after his F-4 Phantom was shot down in 1968), and to become the first of his race in the corps to command a fighter squadron (the famous Black Knights), an air group and a major base.

He retired in 1988 after 38 years of service as a Lieutenant General (3-stars) and as the senior aviator in the Department of the Navy. He was the commander of the Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., and special assistant to the chief of staff.

Category: Marine Corps

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MustangCryppie

Rest in peace, sir.

Skippy

Rest Well Sir

Salute…

Thunderstixx

RIP Marine.
And BZ for a job well done.

desert

He died a year ago and we are just now hearing about it??

Skippy

No Jonn posted it last year also http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=61598
I do believe a few of us read Stars and Stripes and this was in today’s feed so a bunch of us sent it in not realizing it happened last year.

HMCS(FMF) ret.

RIP Marine… thank you for your cerise and a job well done, Sir!

SALUTE

SFC D

This man is a role model. Whiny overpaid entitled NFL “players” are not.

Rest in peace Sir. You’ve earned it.

Bill M

What you said!

2/17 Air Cav

Lieutenant General Petersen died last year, on 25 August. Just change it to the first anniversary of his death and you’re good to go. His is a life and career worth recalling.

2/17 Air Cav
Skippy

My oh my it’s still worth celebrating and remembering every year
Odd thing is Stars and Stripes had a front page on him this morning

2/17 Air Cav

And that’s what I wrote:”His is a life and career worth recalling.”

2/17 Air Cav

Line up and kiss ass,now. I pointed out that the man died a year ago. John Kerry says I shouldn’t have mentioned it.

Skippy

Someone posted a meme on da Facebook side that sums up what these morons would like us to do
???

Skippy

???

Hondo

Rest in peace, General. Thanks for giving thousands – of all races – a good example to follow.

Graybeard

Simper Fidelus, requiem in pace.

ChipNASA

BMLM

Bill (a NIMBY/Banana)

Semper Fidelis and Requiescat in Pace, General.

3E9

Salute Sir.
RIP

Green Thumb

Rest well, sir.

You earned it as you set the example.

CB Senior

That is a No Fucking around face right there.

RIP General

USMC 8151

Thank you for being my role model Marine. Oooorah

In Every Clime & Place

Alemaster

When LTG Peterson left us the warriors in Valhalla gained a leader. respectfully, Alemaster

HMC Ret

I am humbled by men and women such as this.

Hayabusa

When I read about guys like this, it makes me want to slap that whiny little @*&% Colin Kaepernick even harder.

11B-Mailclerk

Who?

OC

“…that such men lived”
The ultimate role model.

Green Thumb

I wish we had a few more like this…..

Bill M

Shame the same can’t be said about the current occupant at 1600 Penna. Ave.

HMC Ret

We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men [and women] stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

Just An Old Dog

He was the CG of Quantico when I was stationed there. Have a few LOA and citations signed by him somewhere. Common sense leader. I remember that if you weren’t considered essential personnel he would have commanders send you home as soon as snow started sprinkling.
One story I remember is that he stayed on flight status and flew several missions with cracked vertebrae in his back. Because Bad Ass… thats why.

Mark Lauer

Semper Fi, Sir.

IDC SARC

Worth remembering, every year.

RIP

T-Bird Henry

Jonn, don’t beat yourself up too much. General Petesen’s life is one worth remembering. Semper Fi, Bravo Zulu and Than You for your sacrifice and efforts sir. You are truly a credit to your race: bythat I mean the Human Race. May God Grant you Peace and that we may be worthy sir.