I met this brother when I was stationed in Okinawa Camp Hansen back in 79-80.I was with special services and he was in charge of it as a whole.He inspected us.What a Giant he was. I was a Corporal and I regret not taking the time to get to know him.
On March, 1969, I arrived in Vietnam as a Sergeant of US Marines (0311). General Petersen had just left a month before I got there. There was so much "rap* among the Brothers on Hill 10 about him, but no one had ever seen him. All throughout my career I encountered many of the General is speaking about here. Like today, a Brother in the Corps had/has to work twice as hard, keep you stuff together and always check your six. His book In To The Tigers Jaw his awesome. In 1984, after 21 years of being a grunt and following the General's career I decided to retire. Many of the brother Marines during that period of time will tell you their own story of how this brother inspired us. I finally got to meet him at Questico during his retirement ceremony. Rest in peace and Semper Fi "Silver Hawk".
I first be came aware of him in Oki in 79. Met him at Henderson Hall in 1980. Thank younand your family for your service to this nation. Your openness and frankness with the history of " racism" in the Corps is completely accurate. I served during the 1977-1999 time frame and as a Black Man , I diffinently rode on the " coat tails " of Marines like yourself. I owe my career to You and many others but it is especially authentic to hear you give some honest answers, based on historical facts. RIP in peace " Silver Hawk" and to Your family I say THANK YOU for sharing this Great Man with us!!! Semper Fi General ( Check 6, Got You Covered).
I served as a Vietnam era Marine, and we were catching pure Hell racially. Not to put the General down because I don't know if he could have actually helped us because he had his own battles to fight. He was a Colonel back then, and I used to always wonder HOW COME HE NEVER SPOKE UP FOR US; HOW COME HE WAS SO QUIET ABOUT THE OVERT RACISM IN THE CORPS back then. I resented his silence thinking he could have said something for ALL OF US but he didn't. PERHAPS JUST BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL BLACK MARINE OFFICER BACK THEN was his way of proving we are worthy. Maybe this is a difficult truth to expose and to write about. Maybe I was just too young or illiterate to understand why HE NEVER RAISED HIS VOICE CONCERNING OUR CONDITION. Maybe it was enough for him to be an excellent Black officer and open doors for more Black officers to ultimately see that one of us could actually someday wear 4 stars. Maybe, as I look back at it now, I did the same thing he was doing. Being the best Black Marine Noncommissioned Officer that I could be to prove to the establishment back then that we were worthy of the title US Marine. Maybe the General was doing the same thing. Maybe as a Black Sergeant I knew nothing about how difficult it must have been to be a Black Colonel.
Can anyone imagine the hostility and racism endured by this great man, yet he overcame it all ! 60 years later I do not see him held up as an example of what anyone can achieve in the USA today.
General Frank Petersen was our Base Commander at Quantico during late 80s ( 85-88 timeframe) He would often arrive on weekends to Legune Hall - with cup of coffee in hand to get his messages from our comm cry, almost always in cut off shorts , with a baseball cap , perhaps unshaven-In or out of uniform, we always made sure to open his door and salute!I think he enjoyed catch young marines off guard...He was inspiring.
USMC Black History moments-Then Major General Frank E. Peterson reviewed my 2nd Platoon Guard Company (0311 0331 0341) Infantry formation at Marine Barracks Guam M.I. in 1983 he was accompanied by a Black Captain who was also in the Marine Air Wing. In 1985 at MCB Camp Lejeune NC I saw Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff USMC Retired The First Black Marine Sergeant Major in the USMC at the base naval hospital with his wife. In 1986 One of my High School friend Robert James Ellison USMC Detroit Kettering High School Class of 1981 while on leave from active duty told me he had met Frederick E Branch who was the First Black Marine commissioned officer at MCAS Kaneoche Bay Hawaii.
I met this brother when I was stationed in Okinawa Camp Hansen back in 79-80.I was with special services and he was in charge of it as a whole.He inspected us.What a Giant he was. I was a Corporal and I regret not taking the time to get to know him.
On March, 1969, I arrived in Vietnam as a Sergeant of US Marines (0311). General Petersen had just left a month before I got there. There was so much "rap* among the Brothers on Hill 10 about him, but no one had ever seen him. All throughout my career I encountered many of the General is speaking about here. Like today, a Brother in the Corps had/has to work twice as hard, keep you stuff together and always check your six. His book In To The Tigers Jaw his awesome. In 1984, after 21 years of being a grunt and following the General's career I decided to retire. Many of the brother Marines during that period of time will tell you their own story of how this brother inspired us. I finally got to meet him at Questico during his retirement ceremony. Rest in peace and Semper Fi "Silver Hawk".
good shit.
Flying Buffalo Sea Soldier / U.S. Marine. Heaven is for Heroes, R.I.P. Semper-Fi, Sir.
First African American General in the USMC. Great leader, and Naval Aviator.
God bless you Sir
I first be came aware of him in Oki in 79. Met him at Henderson Hall in 1980. Thank younand your family for your service to this nation.
Your openness and frankness with the history of " racism" in the Corps is completely accurate. I served during the 1977-1999 time frame and as a Black Man , I diffinently rode on the " coat tails " of Marines like yourself. I owe my career to You and many others but it is especially authentic to hear you give some honest answers, based on historical facts.
RIP in peace " Silver Hawk" and to Your family I say THANK YOU for sharing this Great Man with us!!!
Semper Fi General ( Check 6, Got You Covered).
I serviced an F/A-18 flown by Gen. Petersen.... Outstanding!
That had to be quite an Honor!! He seems good to go!!
I had the honor of meeting General Petersen in Okinawa in 1985-6. He was a great man!
I served as a Vietnam era Marine, and we were catching pure Hell racially. Not to put the General down because I don't know if he could have actually helped us because he had his own battles to fight. He was a Colonel back then, and I used to always wonder HOW COME HE NEVER SPOKE UP FOR US; HOW COME HE WAS SO QUIET ABOUT THE OVERT RACISM IN THE CORPS back then. I resented his silence thinking he could have said something for ALL OF US but he didn't. PERHAPS JUST BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL BLACK MARINE OFFICER BACK THEN was his way of proving we are worthy. Maybe this is a difficult truth to expose and to write about. Maybe I was just too young or illiterate to understand why HE NEVER RAISED HIS VOICE CONCERNING OUR CONDITION. Maybe it was enough for him to be an excellent Black officer and open doors for more Black officers to ultimately see that one of us could actually someday wear 4 stars. Maybe, as I look back at it now, I did the same thing he was doing. Being the best Black Marine Noncommissioned Officer that I could be to prove to the establishment back then that we were worthy of the title US Marine. Maybe the General was doing the same thing. Maybe as a Black Sergeant I knew nothing about how difficult it must have been to be a Black Colonel.
Can anyone imagine the hostility and racism endured by this great man, yet he overcame it all ! 60 years later I do not see him held up as an example of what anyone can achieve in the USA today.
The pride the officers and enlisted Marines who preceded your tenure would been exceedingly proud of this great American. Thank you for your service!
Was a great honor to meet him while stationed at New River Air Station cherish the picture I have with him Semper Fi
General Frank Petersen was our Base Commander at Quantico during late 80s ( 85-88 timeframe) He would often arrive on weekends to Legune Hall - with cup of coffee in hand to get his messages from our comm cry, almost always in cut off shorts , with a baseball cap , perhaps unshaven-In or out of uniform, we always made sure to open his door and salute!I think he enjoyed catch young marines off guard...He was inspiring.
I flew with him in Okinawa in the early 80's Semper Fi.
MWHS 1 WING SQUADRON
What a bad ass. Rest In Honor, General.
Cherry Point 8 Mile Road- still sucks🤣
Awesome video. This guy is my hero
God bless... to an old friend. miss this guy like something fierce. also a true warrior and Patriot
How is it possible back then from sailor and you could become a marine officer.
Wallace Terry's " Bloods" a.must read for all military members.
A true legend❤
Stiff upper lip tells me this man was his own man who can lead others. RiP.
USMC Black History moments-Then Major General Frank E. Peterson reviewed my 2nd Platoon Guard Company (0311 0331 0341) Infantry formation at Marine Barracks Guam M.I. in 1983 he was accompanied by a Black Captain who was also in the Marine Air Wing. In 1985 at MCB Camp Lejeune NC I saw Sergeant Major Edgar R. Huff USMC Retired The First Black Marine Sergeant Major in the USMC at the base naval hospital with his wife. In 1986 One of my High School friend Robert James Ellison USMC Detroit Kettering High School Class of 1981 while on leave from active duty told me he had met Frederick E Branch who was the First Black Marine commissioned officer at MCAS Kaneoche Bay Hawaii.
may he rest in peace
GONE BUT NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN
😎✌️💞