*PETERSEN, DANNY J.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S.
Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and
date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9 January 1970. Entered service
at: Kansas City, Mo. Born: 11 March 1949, Horton, Kans. Citation: Sp4c. Petersen
distinguished himself while serving as an armored personnel carrier commander
with Company B during a combat operation against a North Vietnamese Army Force
estimated to be of battalion size. 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. Sp4c. Petersen immediately maneuvered his armored personnel
carrier to a position between the disabled vehicle and the enemy. He placed
suppressive fire on the enemy's well-fortified position, thereby enabling the
crewmembers of the disabled personnel carrier to repair their vehicle. He then
maneuvered his vehicle, while still under heavy hostile fire to within 10 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, Sp4c. Petersen carried his
wounded comrade 45 meters across the bullet-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 3 sides, he remained with his
disabled vehicle, alone and completely exposed. Sp4c. 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. Sp4c.
Petersen's conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in the highest
traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the
U.S. Army.
Danny Petersen rests today in Netawaka, Kansas. The 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry currently serves with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA.
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