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Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Birth: 27 August
1899, Prentice, Wis. Accredited to: Wisconsin. Citation: For extraordinary
courage and conspicuous heroism above and beyond the call of duty while
in charge of a repair party during an attack on the U .S .S. Neosho by
enemy Japanese aerial forces on 7 May 1942. Lacking assistance because
of injuries to the other members of his repair party and severely wounded
himself, Peterson, with no concern for his own life, closed the bulkhead
stop valves and in so doing received additional burns which resulted in
his death. His spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty, characteristic of
a fine seaman, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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