Irvin “Pete” Peters
Irvin “Pete” Peters was born 15-Aug 1910 in St. Charles MO. His parents were John H. Peters (1859–1930) Anna “Annie” Betteken (1879–1940). Irvin had four half siblings. Two brothers: Homer and Paris and two sisters: Ada and Altha. Pete’s father died sometime before 1940.
According to the 1930 Federal Census, the family was living at 415 Clark Street in St. Charles Mo. Irvin was 19 and working for American Car and Foundry in St. Charles Mo. as an “upholsterer.” By 1940, Irvin was living at 212 Second Street in St. Charles with his mother. Irvin’s father died in 1940.
The 1940 Federal Census reports his occupation was an upholsterer, and he indicated he had worked 28 weeks in 1939 and earned $392.00 for the year. Editor’s note: The 1940 census was the first to ask questions about income. Enumerators had detailed instructions on what they should and should not enter in this column. Each person was asked to state income from wages, salary, and commissions received in 1939 for work done as an employee, including public emergency project work, and report the total amount of money in whole dollars up to $5,000.
On 4-Sep 1941 Irvin married Margaret Ehlenbeck (1909-2004) in St. Charles MO. They lived at 1810 W. Randolph Street in St. Charles MO.
Irvin registered for the draft on 16-Oct 1940 in St. Charles MO. On his registration he wrote his employer was the WPA On 19-Nov 1942, Irvin was classified 1-A. Editor’s note: The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to provide jobs during the Great Depression. The WPA was part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. The WPA employed people in construction, conservation, building roads, and the arts.
Irvin was inducted in the Army on 15-Dec 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, in St. Louis MO. His service number was 37403906. Irvin refused to carry a gun in the Army. The Army allowed him to go unarmed and made him a Medic/Aid Man. Irvin’s Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was 657 for 3 months and 409 for 2 and ½ years as Medical Technician T-5. The Army described his role as, “Gave emergency medical treatment to casualties and prepared them for evacuation during combat. Assisted Medical Officers in the care and treatment of the sick, injured or wounded.”
Irvin served in the Medical Detachment of the 197th Anti-Aircraft Battalion. The 197th was comprised of five batteries: A, B, C, and D (Gun Batteries) and a smaller Headquarters Battery. We believe Irvin served primarily with D Battery. Each battery consisted of an average of 140 enlisted men and six officers. Organized in each battery were two combat platoons, and a headquarter platoon. The headquarters platoon had within it a Mess Section, a Maintenance Section, and a Medical Section. Captain Thomas A. Chappelle lead Battery D.
The day after Christmas, the first new recruits for the 197th AA began to roll into Fort Bliss. 230 men arrived from Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, including many local men. Training started immediately. For many, this was also boot camp. William E. Hesselbach, Battery C of St. Louis arrived at Fort Bliss with no boot training whatsoever. Hesselbach recalled, “When we got to Fort Bliss, they put us on 40 mm guns immediately. We didn’t march or present arms. They didn’t really start that for a few more days later once others started to arrive. But they just put us on the guns right away”. The training at Fort Bliss would last 22 weeks.
Irving arrived in England as part of the massive troop build up for the invasion to liberate Europe. After several postponements, the invasion and crossing of the English Channel began for over 150,000 men including Irvin Peters at 03:30 hours on 5-JUN 1944. On 6-Jun 1944, known as D-Day, Allied forces launched the invasion of Normandy, France, in Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious operation in history, aiming to liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
Irvin loaded onto LST-404 (Landing Ship Tank). Their objective was Omaha Beach, “Fox Green” sector on the eastern side of Omaha. Irvin was now a T/5 crossed the English channel in the early hours of June 6th aboard the LST-404 landing on at Omaha Beach at H-Hour plus 120 minutes about 8:30 AM.
Irvin wrote many, many letters home.Though his letters, we’ve created a timeline to chronicle Irvin and the 197th Anti-Aircraft Battery across Europe. As the war progressed, Irvin more freely shared his experiences with his wife and mother.
For the rest of the story, click on the pdf below.
