By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

Prior to U.S. entry in World War II, the 3rd Armored Division, a heavy armored division, activated for service on April 15, 1941 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. In June, they transferred to Camp Polk, Louisiana. In July of 1942, they trained at Camp Young, California at the Desert Training Center. In January of 1943, they transferred to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania.

The 3rd Armored Division journeyed to England in September of 1943. They were stationed at Somerset, England until June of 1944. The 3rd Armored Division began arriving in France and joined the 9th Army. They fought in the Normandy Campaign and the subsequent Battle of Saint Lo in France through the summer of 1944.

They fought in the Argentan-Falaise area, Putanges, Courville, and Chartres in August of 1944. By September, they were crossing into Belgium and the Siegried Line into Germany. The 3rd Armored Division participated in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge.

In February, the 3rd Armored Division continued to fight into Germany at the Roer River, Rhine River, and captured the city of Cologne in March. They later moved into Paderorn, the Ruhr Pocket, the Saale River and the Elbe River.

In April of 1945, 3rd Armored Division helped to liberate the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp. Their final battle was at Dessau. After Victory in Europe on May 8, 1945 the 3rd Armored Division served as occupation forces at Langen until they were inactivated on Nov. 10, 1945. 

PFC Gilbert A. Peterson served with the 3rd Armored Division of the U.S. Army. PFC Peterson was killed in action on Sept. 21, 1944. He was listed on the National Archives Gold Star Honor list as being from Lafayette County, Wisconsin, likely due to his mother’s residence and his listing her as his next of kin. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Gilbert Alexander Peterson was born on Oct. 17, 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri to John and Fannie (Smith) Peterson. Father John was from Stoughton and mother Marie was from South Wayne Township in Lafayette County.

From the 1920 U.S. Census for St. Louis, Missouri, the Peterson household included mother Fannie, and her children Rose R., Pearl C., and Gilbert A. Fannie told the census worker that she was a widow, but she was either separated or divorced at this point. All are listed as being born in Missouri with parents both born in Missouri. This is also not correct as Fannie and her husband John were both born in Wisconsin. Fannie was working in a shoe factory for wages. [Note: This researcher couldn’t locate father John on the 1920 census.]

Gilbert’s father, John Kato Peterson remarried Laura Twillman on Feb. 8, 1921. On the 1930 census, he lived with his second wife and his daughter Rose in St. Louis.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, Gilbert Peterson was living in Jennings, Saint Ferdinand Township, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was a boarder and working as a shade maker in the carpet business.

On Jan. 21, 1933, Gilbert A. Peterson registered to marry Lorraine Ruth Rose Kilpatrick in Jennings, St. Louis, Missouri. They were divorced on Oct. 11, 1939. However, they had two children together, Helen and Alexander.

In 1936, Gilbert’s sister Rose (Peterson) Lawson died in St. Louis. She had married Russell Lawson.

On Oct. 16, 1940, Gilbert Alexander Peterson registered for the WWII Draft. He was living in St. Louis, Missouri. His next of kin was his mother “Miss” Fannie Smith in South Wayne, Wis. He was working for the Union Electric Light Company in Chokia, Illinois.

On April 20, 1942, Gilbert A. Peterson enlisted for service in WWII at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He was listed as divorced, without dependents. He had two years of high school and his civilian occupation was listed as “999.” [Note: He was divorced but he did have two children with his first wife.]

Father John Peterson died on Dec. 14, 1942 and is buried in Missouri.

Gilbert Peterson remarried a new wife on July 27, 1943 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The marriage record gives the information that Peterson married Jennie Florence Di Stefano of Palmyra, Penn.

From the Oct. 19, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal, notice “Gilbert Peterson Killed in France,” the notice from South Wayne, Wisconsin stated “Pfc. Gilbert Alexander Peterson, 33, St. Louis, Mo., son of Mrs. Fannie Peterson Smith (sic: Fannie Smith Peterson), South Wayne, has been killed in action in France, the war department informed his mother this week. He formerly sang with the Civic Opera Co. at St. Louis.

“Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Smith, South Wayne; his wife, the former Jennie Florence Di Stefano, Palmyra, Pa.; two children by a former marriage, a son, Alexander Gilbert, and a daughter, Helen, who live with their mother, the former Loraine Kilpatrick, St. Louis, and a sister, Pearl Peterson, St. Louis, Mo.”

From the Jan. 16, 1945 The Daily News (Lebanon, Penn.), “PFC G. A. Peterson Is Killed in Action,” the article stated “Pfc. Gilbert A. Peterson, was killed in action in Germany on September 21, 1944, according to word received by his wife, the former Jennie DiStefano of 947 West Main Street, Palmyra.

“The Palmyra girl married Pfc. Peterson, whose home town is St. Louis, Missouri, while he was stationed at Indiantown Gap with the Third Armored Division.”

[Note: Without knowing which regiment Pfc. Peterson was in, it’s difficult to use the division history and know the location for certain where he died. The division was on the move and crossing from Belgium into Germany at that time, but some regiments could have still been in France.]

From the May 27, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article “Pfc. Peterson Buried in Missouri,” the article stated “Committal services for Pfc. Gilbert Alexander Peterson, 33…were to be held today at Jefferson Barracks (Mo.) national cemetery…” Additional information given here was that he was a graduate of Speedway College.

PFC Peterson was repatriated and reburied in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Mo.

Thank you, Private First Class Gilbert Alexander Peterson, for your service to and sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.