Frank E. Petersen

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Frank E. Petersen Jr.
Born (1932-03-03) March 3, 1932
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 Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Other work DuPont DeNemours Inc., VP of Corporate Aviation
National Marrow Donor Program, Chairman[1][2]

Frank E. Petersen Jr. (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.[3]

Petersen retired from the Marine Corps in 1988 after 38 years of service. "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."[4]

Biography

Frank E. Petersen was born on March 2, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas.

Military career

Petersen enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 as a Seaman Apprentice. He served as an Electronics Technician. In 1951, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In 1952, after completing flight training he was selected as a Second Lieutenant in the (USMC).

Petersen served two combat tours in two wars — Korea (1953) and Vietnam (1968). His first tactical assignment was with Marine Fighter Squadron 212 during the Korean War. He flew over 350 combat missions with over 4,000 hours in various fighter/attack aircraft.

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. He was also the first African-American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing, and a major base.[1]

On February 23, 1979,[5] he was promoted to brigadier general becoming the first African American general of the Marine Corps. Petersen relinquished duties as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, on 8 July 1988. He served as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff from 8 July 1988 until 31, July, and retired from the Marine Corps on 1 August 1988. He was presented the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service as the CG, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, from June 1986 to July 1988, upon his retirement.

Education

He received his Bachelor's degree in 1967 and his Master's degree in 1973, both from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In 1987, he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Law degree granted by Virginia Union University. In addition he also attended the following service schools: the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia; the Aviation Safety Officers Course at the University of Southern California; and the National War College, Washington, D.C., class of 1973.

Awards

Petersen's decorations include:[4]
V
Gold star
V
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Naval Aviator Badge
1st Row Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal
2nd Row Legion of Merit w/ valor device Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal
3rd Row Air Medal w/ 1 award star &Strike/Flight numeral "10" Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ valor device Air Force Commendation Medal Combat Action Ribbon
4th Row Navy Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star
5th Row Korean Service Medal w/ 2 service stars Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 service stars Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Korean Presidential Unit Citation
6th Row Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "News Release: Marine Corps Gen. Frank Petersen to Speak at Embry-Riddle Commencement03/12/04". Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. April 23, 1999. Retrieved 2008-08-18. 
  2. ↑ "NMDP NamesGeneral Frank E. Petersen Jr. as Board Chair". National Marrow Donor Program. July 22, 1999. Retrieved 2008-08-18. 
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Official Marine Corps biography". Retrieved 2008-08-18. 
  5. ↑ "This week in Black history.(Col. Frank E. Petersen Jr. became the first Black promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Marines )". Jet. February 27, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-18. 

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

External links

  • Petersen, Frank E. (1998). Into the Tiger's Jaw : America's First Black Marine Aviator — The Autobiography of Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-675-7. 
  • "Frank Petersen". Visionary Interviews. National Visionary Leadership Project. Retrieved 2008-08-18. 
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