Frank E. Petersen

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Frank E. Petersen
Born March 3, 1932 (1932-03-03) (age 76)

Place of birth	Topeka, Kansas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1950-1952 (USN), 1952-1988 (USMC)
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	VMFA-212 VMFA-314
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with Combat "V" Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart

Frank E. Petersen (USMC) (born March 2, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas) is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General. He was the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general.^[1]

Peterson retired from the Marine Corps in 1988. "At the time of his retirement he was by date of aviator designation the senior ranking aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps and the United States Navy with respective titles of "Silver Hawk" and "Gray Eagle". His date of designation as an aviator also precedes all other aviators in the U.S. Air Force and Army."^[2]

1 Military career
2 Awards
3 Notes
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Military career

Petersen enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950, where he served as an electronics technician. In 1951, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In 1952, after completing flight training he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Petersen served in two conflicts — Korea and Vietnam. He flew over 350 combat missions with over 4,000 hours.

He held command positions at all levels of Marine Corps aviation — commanding a Marine Fighter Squadron, a Marine Aircraft Group, and a Marine Aircraft Wing.