“What a spot we were in. No bazookas, no tanks or anything to knock out their tanks… The fellow behind me that was so nervous got killed and a couple behind me were wounded. I just lay there…I couldn’t move because I was in line with the fire of the enemy.”
It was 1945, “somewhere in Germany” — Technical Sergeant Reginald Peterson’s phrase for the return address of his letters home. He’d shipped out on Feb. 24 on a trans-Atlantic voyage that took eight days. His battalion made its way to the front line, dodging artillery shells, bazooka fire and snipers’ bullets.
“If there is a Hell on earth, war is it. You see your buddies whole one minute and then the next minute he is blown apart, an arm or leg gone. It could happen to you.”
He had his own close call, taking shrapnel in the leg during a campaign in Heidelberg.
Peterson skillfully and carefully avoided talk of war operations in his letters home to Greenport, which had to pass through the watchful eyes of military censors. But fresh from his return, he recorded his memories of battling the Germany army in a 17-page, typewritten memoir.
He then went about his life, working on an oyster boat, on a farm and then settling into the carpentry trade, from which he earned a living that would support his family.
Peterson met his future bride on a blind date. Helen Tyte of Riverhead was almost seven years his junior, not even out of high school. They went to a movie and she recalls being too shy to even speak. They married about a year later, on Oct. 21, 1950, settled in East Marion and raised a family.
“I am here today because God held me in His hand and protected me,” Peterson says. Sixty years ago, he wrote a similar sentiment in his account of the war. “The words of Psalm 91 got me through,” he says.
Even at 90, Peterson’s mind is sharp, his memories clear. His body has slowed down some — but as recently as six months ago, he was still chopping wood.
“I did it scientifically,” he says.
Peterson has a passion for helping children. He and his family have packaged up more than 15,000 boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
He was attempting to raise money to support that effort by selling baseball cards from a table outside his house.
That’s how Bill Reidell of East Marion met Peterson.
“I thought he was in need of help,” Reidell said. “I didn’t realize it was a fundraiser.” Reidell went into Peterson’s home to chat and noticed a framed proclamation on his living room wall regarding his Bronze Star, an award given to members of the military for heroism or meritorious service.
Peterson had also received a Purple Heart.
Reidell soon learned that Peterson had never been officially presented with his military medals — they’d been mailed to him. A Navy veteran with 30 years of active duty service, he wanted to make that right and called Congressman Lee Zeldin’s office.
The presentation took place today at First Baptist Church in Greenport, where the Petersons are congregants. Peterson’s memoir, along with a scrapbook of photographs and letters, were set out on a table in the community room of the church. The veteran brought his framed medals — along with a piece of shrapnel that he found in his boot three weeks after he was injured.
Zeldin presented Peterson with a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol.
“We aspire to be this nation’s next ‘greatest generation,’” said Zeldin, who served in the Middle East and is a major in the Army Reserves. “You are an inspiration to us.”
About 60 people attended today’s ceremonies, including County Legislator Al Krupski and Southold Town Board members Bill Ruland an Jim Dinizio. Peterson wore donned his Army uniform for the occasion, prompting more words of admiration from Zeldin, who said he hopes when he’s 90 his Army uniform will fit him as well as Peterson’s fits him.
“Thank you for your service,” the congressman told his constituent. “Thank you for all you did to keep the world safe and free.”
