[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       IN RECOGNITION OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL FRANK E. PETERSEN JR.

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2014

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Lieutenant General (LtGen) Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first African-
American to serve as a three-star general officer in the U.S. Marine 
Corps. At the time of his retirement after 38 years, LtGen Petersen was 
the senior ranking aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy 
with the respective titles of ``Silver Hawk'' and ``Gray Eagle''. He 
will be honored on July 28, 2014 for his selfless acts and lifetime of 
dedication to the Marine Corps and his country.
  A Topeka, Kansas native, LtGen Petersen enlisted in the United States 
Navy in 1950 as a Seaman Apprentice where he served as an Electronics 
Technician. One year later, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet 
Program, earning his commission and the rank of Second Lieutenant with 
the U.S. Marine Corps upon the completion of flight school in 1952. 
LtGen Petersen served during the Korean War, where his first tactical 
assignment was with Marine Fighter Squadron 212. After flying over 64 
combat missions, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his 
combat leadership and bravery on June 15, 1953. He also flew 250 combat 
missions during the Vietnam conflict, receiving the Purple Heart after 
enemy anti-aircraft fire brought down his F-4B over the demilitarized 
zone. In addition, the Marine Corps Aviation Association honored his 
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) with the inaugural Robert 
M. Hanson Award for best fighter attack squadron during the Vietnam 
conflict.
  LtGen Petersen was the first African-American to command a Marine 
Fighter Squadron, a Marine Air Group, a Marine Aircraft Wing, and a 
major Marine base. On February 23, 1979, he was promoted to Brigadier 
General, becoming the first African-American general of the Marine 
Corps. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Special Assistant to 
the Chief of Staff and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat 
Development Command in Quantico, Virginia.
  Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps on August 1, 1988, LtGen 
Petersen concluded a military career of remarkable ``firsts''. He 
commanded at every level of command and stood as a trailblazer for all 
Marines. His autobiography, ``Into the Tiger's Jaw'', is known as the 
story of the modern U.S. Marine Corps, providing vital insight into the 
history of Marine aviation as well as the racial integration of the 
Marine Corps. Throughout the book's narrative, LtGen Petersen reflects 
on key moments that defined his life's sacrifices, triumphs, and key 
personal moments in addition to unequivocally chronicling the racial 
integration of the Marine Corps.
  Throughout his career, LtGen Petersen confronted racism inside and 
outside the Marine Corps. Nevertheless, as he reflects in his book, the 
Marine Corps ethos enabled Marines to ultimately triumph over racism. 
Indeed, his life's commands illustrate the Marine Corps' triumph. In 
1970, as deteriorating race relations threatened to rend the nation 
asunder, LtGen Petersen became the Special Assistant for Minority 
Affairs to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. His guidance to the 
Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the 
Secretary of Defense served the Marine Corps and the country well 
during this challenging period.
  LtGen Petersen spent his civilian years as vice president of 
corporate aviation for du Pont de Nemours, Inc. He was also appointed 
by the U.S. Secretary of Education to serve as a Board Member of the 
Educational Credit Management Corporation.
  LtGen Petersen's personal awards and decorations include the Defense 
Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat ``V''; 
Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; 
Air Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ``V''; Air Force 
Commendation Medal; Robert M. Hanson Award for the Most Outstanding 
Fighter Squadron while assigned in Vietnam, 1968; Man of the Year, 
NAACP, 1979; Honorary Doctorate, Virginia Union University, 1987; and 
the Gray Eagle Trophy, August 21, 1987-June 15, 1988.
  LtGen Petersen has certainly accomplished many things in his life but 
none of this would have been possible without the love and support of 
his wife of 39 years, Alicia, and his children; Frank III, Gayle, Dana, 
and Lindsey.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, the United States 
Marine Corps, and all Americans, in extending our sincerest 
appreciation to Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr., a pioneering 
leader who, in addition to achieving the distinction of a number of 
``firsts'' for African-Americans, has the respect, admiration, and 
affection of his fellow Marines and leaves behind an outstanding legacy 
of service and leadership in the Marine Corps of the United States of 
America.

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