Oscar C. Peterson

  • ASN:
    39189086
  • DATE OF BIRTH
    October 10, 1921
  • DATE OF DEATH
    October 2, 2018
FULL NAME:

Oscar C. Peterson

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):

39189086

  • DATE OF BIRTH: October 10, 1921
  • DATE OF DEATH: October 2, 2018
RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):

Forks, Clallam County, Washington

DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
  • DATE OF ENLISTMENT:
    September 12, 1942
  • PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Tacoma, Washington
ORGANIZATION:
  • MAIN UNIT:
    38th Infantry Regiment
  • SUBUNIT:
    Regimental Medical Detachment
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
  • RANK:
    Technician Third Grade (T/3)
  • POSITION IN UNIT:
    Medic
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:

✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)

SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:

Oscar C. Peterson was born on October 10, 1921 on a family homestead in Forks, Washington. He was sports talented and he loved mountains. When Oscar was young he often spent summers at the Sol Duc Hot Springs with his mother, who had become a guide in the Olympic Mountains. As a teenager Oscar was often in charge of their family farm especially after his older brother Ivan left for college. Oscar graduated from Quillayute High School in 1940 and the following year he worked for the U.S. Forest Service to pay for his college studies and to help his brother pay for his.

In 1942 Oscar attended the ROTC program at Washington State University. He also hoped to become a veterinarian but his college studies were interrupted by war and in September 1942 Oscar was inducted into the Army. After completing basic training at Camp Bullis, Oscar was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. Soon after that the Division was moved to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin to attend its winter training.

On June 8, 1944 Oscar and his unit landed in Normandy where, as a combat medic, Oscar witnessed some of the most horrific fighting. In the next 336 days in combat out of the original 32 medics in Oscar’s unit, 2 were killed, 2 were taken captive, and 25 were wounded. Oscar was one of three men in his unit who dodged death and wounds.

HONORED BY:

Glynda Peterson Schaad, Daughter

NARA - Display Full Records

File Unit: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
in the Series: World War II Army Enlistment Records, created 6/1/2002 - 9/30/2002, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946. - Record Group 64 (info)

Brief Scope: This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

Source: aad.archives.gov/aad/
SOLDIER RECORD:
Full Name
Oscar C Peterson
Army Serial Number
39189086
Enlistment Place
Tacoma Washington
Enlistment Date
12 Sep 1942
Army Branch
Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch
Army
Race or Ethnicity
White
Residence
Clallam County, Washington
Enlistment Term
Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Source of Army Personnel
Civil Life
Army Component
Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Level of Education
3 years of high school
Occupation
Semiskilled sawmill occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status
Single, without dependents
Birth Date
1921
Birth Place
Washington
Source Box Number
1404
Source Film Reel Number
6.170
Conflict Period
World War II
Served for
United States of America

ARTICLES

Combat Medic – T/3 Oscar C. Peterson

“One day we treated 125 wounded in 4 hours. Once we had that many casualties, the aid men treated anybody they could. Sometimes our medics would go with the red flag and sometimes they were shot at anyway… When we went through Trévières, France, I walked right by the body of one of my best friends. His name was Henry Nuss, he was shot in the head,” remembered T/3 Oscar C. Peterson, a combat medic in the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Oscar C. Peterson was born on October 10, 1921 on a family homestead in Forks, Washington. He was sports talented and he loved mountains. When Oscar was young he often spent summers at the Sol Duc Hot Springs with his mother, who had become a guide in the Olympic Mountains. As a teenager Oscar was often in charge of their family farm especially after his older brother Ivan left for college. Oscar graduated from Quillayute High School…

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