Orville Milburn Peterson

  Research Notes:

1. Person:
Orville Peterson
Gender: Male
Birth: 05 Jul 1920
Death: 31 Aug 2005

World War II
Branch: Army
Enlistment Date: 17 Sep 1943
Organization: Army
Release Date:
02 Feb 1946

Sources
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010


2. Obit, 2005; from StarTribune.com; see my computer file folders (under Nels Roan)

Peterson Orville M. "Pete" Peterson, age 85, of Minneapolis, died on August 31, 2005 at his home surrounded by his family. Survived by loving wife of 58 years, Evelyn; daughters, Patricia Peterson and Marilyn (Tim) Torchia; grandson, Carson; sisters, Stella Lewis and Norma Mayotte; and brother, Paul. Pete worked in the electronic aerospace instrument industry for 33 years and retired from Rosemount, Inc. He proudly served in WWII with the 43rd Infantry Division as a Staff Sergeant, seeing combat in New Guinea and the Philippines. Lifetime member of VFW Post 5555. Pete was a recreational walker and an avid golfer, playing several times a week well into his 80's. Pete will be missed not only by his family and golfing buddies, but also by all the neighbors and friends who benefited from his electrical and fix-it skills through the years. Pete was always quick to lend a hand to anyone and share a joke and a laugh. He will be missed so much as a wonderful husband, dad, and the world's best grandpa. Memorial service 11 AM Wednesday, September 7 at Richfield Lutheran Church at 60th and Nicollet Ave. Visitation 1 hour prior to service at church. Interment Ft. Snelling 1:45 PM, assembly area #2. Morris Nilsen Chapel 612-869-3226


3. Findagrave post

- photo of Orville taken about 1943, posted by Marilyn Torchia
- one comment, by Marilyn Torchia on 20 Feb 2011: "we love you dad"


4. 43rd Infantry Division
from, http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/history/infantry/division/pacific/43rd_infantry_division.html [accessed 27 Dec 2016 ]


Division History | 43rd Infantry Division LoneSentry.com
[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and typographical corrections have been made.]
World War I

Activated: 21 March 1925 as a National Guard Division in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
World War II

Activated: 24 February 1941.
Overseas: 1 October 1942.
Campaigns: New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Luzon.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 5.
Awards: MH-2; DSC-40; DSM-2; SS-736; LM-53; SM-51; BSM-2,496; AM-27.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne (February-August 1941), Maj. Gen. John H. Hester (August 1941-July 1943), Maj. Gen. Leonard F. Wing (August 1943 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 19 October 1945.
Inactivated: 26 October 1945.
Combat Chronicle

The 43rd Infantry Division landed in New Zealand on 23 October 1942. The 172nd Regiment arrived at Espiritu Santo, 26 October. The Division moved to Noumea, New Caledonia, in November and to Guadalcanal, 17 February 1943. Russell Islands were occupied without opposition, 21 February, and training continued. Elements landed on Vangunu and Rendova Islands against minor resistance, 30 June, but the enemy fought fiercely before relinquishing Munda and its airfield, 5 August. Vela Cela and Baanga were taken easily, but the Japanese resisted stubbornly on Arundel Island before withdrawing, 22 September. After training at Munda, the 43rd moved to Guadalcanal and thence to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation. On 19 July 1944, the Division assumed defensive positions at Aitape, engaged in patrols and reconnaissance at Tadji and along the Drinumor River, 25 July, and took the offensive, 8 August 1944, ending organized resistance on the 25th. On 9 January 1945, the 43rd made an assault landing in the San Fabian area, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Under enemy fire, the Division secured the beachhead and fought into the Lingayen Plain by 12 February. The offensive was resumed against the enemy north and west of Fort Stotsenburg, 27 February. After ending Japanese resistance in the Zambales Mountains, the 43rd swung south against the Shimbu Line. On 6 May 1945, the attack continued in the Bulucan area. Ipo Dam was secured and enemy opposition smashed in the Ipo area, 19 May. Mopping-up activities continued until 30 June 1945. The Division left Manila, 7-13 September, for occupation duty in Japan until it left for home.
General

Nickname: Winged Victory Division.
Shoulder patch: A khaki-bordered red quatrefoil, on which is imposed a black grapeleaf.
Association: 43rd Infantry Division Association.
Publication: History of the 43d Infantry Division: by unit members; Army & Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, La.; 1946.


5. 43rd Infantry Division; book; The History of the 43rd Infantry Division, 1941-1945 Paperback '96 August 11, 2008 by Joseph E. Zimmer (on Amazon, 27 Dec 2016)


6. Book; it isn't clear if this has any information on the 43rd Infantry Division ; no real clear index [27 Dec 2016]

http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/index.html


7. Wikipedia ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/43rd_Infantry_Division_(United_States) [ 27 Dec 2016 ]


Component Units
103rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
169th Infantry Regiment (United States)
172nd Infantry Regiment (United States)
43rd Division Artillery HQ
103rd Field Artillery Battalion
152nd Field Artillery Battalion
169th Field Artillery Battalion
192nd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
43rd Signal Company
743rd Ordnance Company
43rd Quartermaster Company
43rd Reconnaissance Troop
118th Engineer Battalion
118th Medical Battalion
118th Quartermaster Battalion
43rd Counter Intelligence Detachment
43rd Military Police Platoon

Thus , I will need to know more detail about his service and the unit, etc

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military Service, 17 Sep 1943 to 2 Feb 1946, United States. ^3082,3084 From BIRLS file: Enlisted on 17 Sep 1943 and released on 2 Feb 1946 (served about 2 years and 4.5 months). US Army.
From his obituary, "...served in WWII with the 43rd Infantry Division as a Staff Sergeant, seeing combat in New Guinea and the Philippines." The tombstone posted on Findagrave records "S SGT, US Army."

Orville married Evelyn Docken.