Vice Admiral
Forrest S. Petersen (May 16, 1922 - December 8, 1990) was a
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviatorAn aviator is a person who flies aircraft for pleasure or as a profession. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887 as a variation of the French 'aviation', from the latin 'avis', coined 1863 by G. de la Landelle in "Aviation ou Navigation Aérienne"...
.
Born in
Holdrege, NebraskaHoldrege is a city in Phelps County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,636 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Phelps County.-Transportation:...
, he was the son of Elmer and Stella Petersen. and was raised in
Gibbon, NebraskaGibbon is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,759 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gibbon is located at ....
. Prior to entering the Navy he attended the University of Nebraska.
He was commissioned an Ensign upon graduation from the
United States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, that educates and commissions officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis". It is also called "The Academy", "The Boat School", or "Canoe...
in June 1944 and reported to the destroyer
USS Caperton (DD-650)USS Caperton was a of the United States Navy, named for Admiral William B. Caperton .Caperton was launched 22 May 1943 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, sponsored by Miss M. Caperton; and commissioned 30 July 1943, Commander W. J...
. While serving aboard Caperton he participated in campaigns in the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
,
FormosaTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
and Okinawa.
Vice Admiral
Forrest S. Petersen (May 16, 1922 - December 8, 1990) was a
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviatorAn aviator is a person who flies aircraft for pleasure or as a profession. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887 as a variation of the French 'aviation', from the latin 'avis', coined 1863 by G. de la Landelle in "Aviation ou Navigation Aérienne"...
.
Birth and education
Born in
Holdrege, NebraskaHoldrege is a city in Phelps County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,636 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Phelps County.-Transportation:...
, he was the son of Elmer and Stella Petersen. and was raised in
Gibbon, NebraskaGibbon is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,759 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gibbon is located at ....
. Prior to entering the Navy he attended the University of Nebraska.
Military career
He was commissioned an Ensign upon graduation from the
United States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, that educates and commissions officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis". It is also called "The Academy", "The Boat School", or "Canoe...
in June 1944 and reported to the destroyer
USS Caperton (DD-650)USS Caperton was a of the United States Navy, named for Admiral William B. Caperton .Caperton was launched 22 May 1943 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, sponsored by Miss M. Caperton; and commissioned 30 July 1943, Commander W. J...
. While serving aboard Caperton he participated in campaigns in the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
,
FormosaTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
and Okinawa. After graduation from flight training in 1947, he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Twenty Able which was later redesignated Fighter Squadron 192.
He was selected for postgraduate training in Aeronautical Engineering in July 1950 and upon completion of two years of study at the
Naval Postgraduate SchoolThe Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants both master's degrees and doctoral degrees. The school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the .The NPS...
was awarded a Bachelors Degree (AE). He continued studies for one year at
Princeton UniversityPrinceton University a private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League and is considered one of the Colonial Colleges....
and received a Masters Degree in Engineering. From 1953 to 1956 he served with Fighter Squadron FIFTY ONE. In 1956 he was selected to attend the Naval Test Pilot School and remained as an instructor following graduation. in August 1958 he was assigned duties as Research Pilot in the
X-15The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAF, NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable...
Program and served with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flight Research Center at
Edwards, CaliforniaEdwards is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is located east-southeast of Mojave, at an elevation of 2356 feet . Edwards is most notable as being the site of Edwards Air Force Base.A post office was established at Edwards in 1951 ....
until January 1962. During that time he made five free flights in the X-15 and achieved a speed of 3,600mph (Mach 5.3) and an altitude of about 102,000 feet. Admiral Petersen was the only active duty Navy pilot to fly the X-15 (John McKay, Milton Thompson, Scott Crossfield and
Neil ArmstrongNeil Alden Armstrong is an American aviator and a former astronaut, test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. He was the first person to set foot on the Moon. His first spaceflight was aboard Gemini 8 in 1966, for which he was the command pilot...
were former Navy pilots). In July 1962 he was a joint recipient of the
Collier TrophyThe Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association , presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space...
which was presented by President
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and the
NASA Distinguished Service MedalThe NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...
which was presented by Vice President
Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969 after his service as the Vice President of the United States from 1961 to 1963...
.
Admiral Petersen served as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 154 prior to being assigned to the office of Director, Division of Naval Reactors, AEC for Nuclear Power Training. He reported to
USS Enterprise (CVN-65)USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth U.S. naval vessel to bear the name...
in January 1964 and served therein as Executive Officer until April 1966. He was awarded the
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order...
for duty during Enterprise's first combat tour in
VietnamVietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
. In November 1967 he assumed command of USS Bexar (APA 237) in the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. Following an eight month deployment with the United States Seventh Fleet Amphibious Forces in the
Western PacificThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Tepre Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and...
he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V.He then served as Commanding Officer of the Enterprise (July 8, 1969 - December 3, 1971). He was then assigned duties as an Assistant to the Director of Naval Program Planning in the office of the
Chief of Naval OperationsThe Chief of Naval Operations is the highest ranking officer in the United States Navy and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CNO reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of...
. In 1974, he went on to command a carrier group out of Athens, Greece, CTF-60. In 1975 he came back to the Pentagon to head the Naval Air Operations office. He then headed Naval Air Systems Command, from which he retired in 1980.
Awards and decorations
Vice Admiral Petersen held the following awards for service in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
,
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
and the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
:
Legion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued both to United States military personnel and to military and political figures...
, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order...
,
NASA Distinguished Service MedalThe NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...
, Navy Commendation Medal,
American Defense Service MedalThe American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military, recognizing service before America’s entry into the Second World War but during the initial years of the European conflict.-Criteria:...
,
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalThe Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D...
,
American Campaign MedalThe American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
,
China Service MedalThe China Service Medal was a military medal awarded to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. The medal was instituted on August 23, 1940 and featured a yellow ribbon with narrow red edge stripes...
,
Army of Occupation MedalThe Army of Occupation Medal is a military decoration of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department in 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany or Japan...
(w/"Japan" clasp),
Philippine Liberation MedalThe Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth of the Philippines Army Headquarters on December 20 1944...
,
Philippine Presidential Unit CitationThe Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War....
,
World War II Victory MedalThe World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
,
Korean Service MedalThe Korean Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States decoration for participation in the Korean War and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who...
,
United Nations Service MedalThe United Nations Service Medal for Korea is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950...
,
Vietnam Service MedalThe Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is issued to recognize military service during the Vietnam War and is authorized to service members in every branch of the U.S...
,
Vietnam Campaign MedalThe Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces, who completed at least six months of duty in South Vietnam between the dates of 1 March 1961 and 28 March...
,
National Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
(w/bronze
service starA service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service medals, ribbon...
), and the
Korean War Service MedalThe Korean War Service Medal is a decoration of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950...
Death and burial
He died on December 8, 1990 in
Georgetown, South CarolinaGeorgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina, handling over 960,000...
.. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
See also