Distinguished himself on January 9, 1970 while serving as an armored personnel carrier commander with Company B, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, during a combat operation against a North Vietnamese Army Force estimated to be of battalion size in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam. During the initial contact with the enemy, an armored personnel carrier was disabled and the crewmen were pinned down by the heavy onslaught of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Specialist Petersen immediately maneuvered his armored personnel carrier to a position between the disabled vehicle and the enemy. He place suppressive fire on the enemy’s well-fortified position, thereby enabling the crew members of the disabled personnel carrier to repair their vehicle. He then maneuvered his vehicle, while still under heavy hostile fire, to within ten feet of the enemy’s defensive emplacement. After a period of intense fighting, his vehicle received a direct hit and the driver was wounded.
With extraordinary courage and selfless disregard for his own safety, Specialist Petersen carried his wounded comrade 45 meters across the buller-swept field to a secure area. He then voluntarily returned to his disabled armored personnel carrier to provide covering fire for both the other vehicles and the dismounted personnel of his platoon as they withdrew. Despite heavy fire from three sides, he remained with his disabled vehicle, alone and completely exposed. Specialist Petersen was standing on top of his vehicle, firing his weapon, when he was mortally wounded. His heroic and selfless actions prevented further loss of life in his platoon. Specialist Petersen’s conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in the highest traditions of the service and relect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Petersen entered the Army from Atchison, KS. His membership in the LOV is sponsored by Fred Drew USA, who was Petersen’s company commander, and Jim Collican, NC. Petersen is buried in Netawak, KS.
