TFH 5/7 Edition 2: WTC Oscar V. Peterson, USN

Oscar Verner Peterson was born on August 27, 1899 in Prentice, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the United States Navy on December 8, 1920 and spent his entire career serving aboard various ships of the fleet.

As World War II opened, Peterson had reached Chief Petty Officer rank and held the "Watertender" rating; an engineering specialty. He served aboard the USS Neosho (AO-23), a Cimarron-class fleet oiler.  Neosho survived the attack on Pearl Harbor unscathed, and spent the early days of the war attached to the Pacific Fleet's carrier task forces carrying vital fuel oil and aviation gasoline.

For the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942, she was attached to Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's Task Force 17. After refueling the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) on May 6th, Neosho retired from the immediate battle area escorted by the destroyer USS Sims (DD-409). On May 7th, they were discovered and attacked by Japanese aircraft.


Seven bombs struck the Neosho, and she was further damaged by the crash of one of the Japanese attacking airplanes into the ship. Three bombs hit the Sims and she sunk with almost all hands. Nonetheless, Neosho continued to float, and thanks to the courage of her crew in damage control, the vessel nearly survived. WTC Peterson's personal gallantry in trying to save his ship despite his own grievous injuries saw him decorated with our Nation's highest honor.

From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (M-S):


*PETERSON, OSCAR VERNER


Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 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.

Ultimately the Neosho couldn't be saved. The ship was scuttled lest she fall into the hands of the enemy on May 11, 1942. There were 123 survivors from her crew of 304. Chief Peterson succumbed to his massive burn injuries on May 13, 1942. He was buried at sea.

Inexplicably, Peterson's wife Lola received her husband's Medal of Honor in the mail with no ceremony. This unbelievable slight was rectified on April 3, 2010 when a ceremony was held and the Medal was re-presented to Fred Peterson, the brave sailor's sole surviving child.

The United States Navy honored Chief Peterson later in the war when on September 28, 1943 it accepted into commission the Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Peterson (DE-152). She sailed in defense of our Nation for the rest of World War II and with our Navy until her decommissioning in 1965. The only ship of our Navy that has held the name of this heroic sailor was scrapped in 1974.