Otto V. Peterson
My dad, Otto V. 'Sonny' Peterson, 'crossed the bar' 12-17-01, one day shy of this 81st birthday, in Tacoma, WA. He was in the CG from 1940 to 52 (SK-1). Dad served on the Taney 1940-42 and was on the Taney at
Pearl Harbor 12-7-41 and has been credited with being on the gun crew to fire the first shot that morning from her decks. He also served on the USN (CG manned) Gen. Muir (a 'plank holder', he helped commission the Muir in
Portland, OR during the war); NY Navy yards during WW-II, did SP duty in Paris right after WW-II, was on the Storis just after it came around from Greenland (he helped form D-17 out of D-13); also was stationed at D-13,
D-Cleveland and Boston, and was at other places around the world. He was also Pacific Fleet heavy weight boxing champ during WW-II (6'4' and 250 lbs). He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assoc., CG Combat Vets.,
and the Bering Sea Patroll AK Vets and the VFW. He remained active in these organizations, giving his last Pearl Harbor/Taney interview on KIRO radio Seattle for D-13 on 12-7-01. CGD headquarters web site featurs dad on
its WW-2 site (see http://www.uscg.mil/news/Wwii/WWII.htm ). Some of his Taney/PHSA items will eventually be given to the Taney museum in Baltimore. The family thanks all those 'old shipmates' who have contacted dad via
Fred'sPlace over the past year, he enjoyed that very much. He is survived by myself (USCG 65-69) in Tacoma, daughter Ann in Everett, WA, five grand kids and one great grandson. Mom died in 96 - she was one of the first
women to join the Women's Auxilary Army Air Corp in 1942. Dad loved the 'guard', life and meeting with his old coastie buddies. A memorial with military honors will be held in the Spring.
12/18/01 Submitted by: Joe V. Peterson
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