Robert Henry Peters

Senior Master Sergeant, Retired

United States Air Force

Bob enlisted in the US Army on the 14th of August 1948 in Washington, DC. He was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for his basic training and then to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for advanced training in communications.

After completing training Bob was assigned to Japan where he joined the Army of Occupation. Upon completion of this tour, he returned home and joined the Army Reserve. However, the outbreak of hostilities in Korea saw Bob recalled to active duty and in December of 1950 he was assigned to the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division. In January 1951, while serving as the BAR man in his squad and in action against North Korean and Chinese forces Bob was severely wounded. In this action every man in the unit received some award or decoration, with the Company Commander, Lieutenant Carl Dodd, being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Eventually Bob reached Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC, where he was reunited with friends and family. Here he spent 1 ½ of the next three years in recuperating from his wounds.

After his discharge from the Army and looking for a job in November 1953, Bob joined the US Air Force, putting his communication training to use again, while also learning radar and air traffic control skills along the way. While serving in the Air Force, Bob was assigned to many locations including, Donaldson AFB, South Carolina; Boling AFB, Washington, DC; Lowery AFB, Colorado; Harmon AB, Newfoundland; Shilling AFB, Kansas; Keesler AFB, Mississippi (twice, once as a student and later as an instructor); McGuire AFB, New Jersey; Clark AB, Philippines; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; Diabryka, Turkey; Langley AFB, Virginia; and the Pentagon. During his career Bob received many awards, decorations and commendations, including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Purple Heart.

While serving his country, Bob also had numerous opportunities to serve his Lord. When stationed at McGuire, in New Jersey, he and Carolyn noticed an advertisement in the newspaper calling for interested Southern Baptists to join in the formation of a pioneer church. They were active in the early work of this congregation as it began meeting in homes, and later moving to the basement of a local bank. So small was this effort, that the Pastor served two congregations, one in New Jersey and the other in Levittown, Pennsylvania. They continued their church work while in Mississippi as they served by working in the Intermediate (Youth) Department.

In the Philippines, a chance to be involved with Foreign Mission work was available. Just outside the gate of Clark AFB was a Southern Baptist Mission church pastored by Allen Smith. Every Sunday saw the church filled with Americans and Filipinos worshiping together. While the missionary family had the use of some of the facilities on base, they could not shop in the Commissary. Here the Air Force families pitched by providing many of the necessities for their Pastor and his family. The tour in the Philippines saw Bob make numerous trips to Viet Nam in support if the activities of his unit, there he befriended Jim Humphries, another missionary, helping him and his work in many ways, even bringing him to the Peters’ home for a brief time of R and R.

Bob’s assignment to Turkey, allowed him to visit many Old Testament sites, including Haran, the early home of Abram (Abraham).

On September 1st 1975, after serving his country at home and abroad, in peace and at war, for 27 years, Bob retired. His final assignment was the Pentagon, where he served the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Thus his career had, in someway traveled a full circle; enlisting in Washington, DC and retiring just a few miles away in Northern Virginia.

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