Carl Jerrold Peterson

Carl Jerrold Peterson (31 October 1936 2 April 1969) was a United States Navy Lieutenant Commander and the commanding officer of Patrol River Boat Squadron 57. He was killed in action in Vietnam and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1975, the United States Navy named the in his memory.

Biography

Carl Jerrold Peterson was born 31 October 1936 to Captain Carl A. Peterson, USN, Ret. (1908 1996) of Tuxedo Park, New York and Miriam C. Redden-Peterson (1909 2010), daughter of Connecticut State senator William A. Redden. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1958. According to his Academy Yearbook and the Bridgeport Post, he was from Bridgeport, Connecticut and lived at 388 Midland for much of his youth. He was said to "play a mean attack on the lacrosse field" and he was a valuable member of the crew of the USNA's yacht, Freedom.

Lieutenant Commander Peterson then served successive tours at sea in and . In 1962, he was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and in 1964 to the staff of Commander Middle East Force. From 1966 to 1968 Lieutenant Commander Peterson served as Operations Officer aboard and participated in eight major amphibious assaults against enemy forces in Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Peterson was credited with developing the command and control techniques for debarking troops simultaneously by air and sea amphibious transports successfully employed in these assaults.

Awards and honors His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device (awarded posthumously) and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.