Letters from Frank (1934-1944)

From humble beginnings as a ship captain's son, Lieutenant Commander Frank James Peterson (1909-1945) steered the course of an extraordinary life. From enlisting as a Marine to gain entrance into the Naval Academy, becoming a pilot of bombers and seaplanes, and rescuing refugees off the coast of Spain in a whaleboat, LCDR Peterson had not only a storied life, but a heroic one. Tragically, it was a life cut short. While serving as the Commanding Officer of Composite Squadron Seventy Seven from USS Rudyerd Bay, LCDR Peterson was lost at sea while conducting flight operations over Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945. This is a collection of letters and poems that were sent home to his wife, parents, and friends.