Oscar F. Peatross

Oscar Franklin Peatross (March 2, 1916 – May 26, 1993) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general who served as Marine Raider in World War II and was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism on August 17–18, 1942.

He also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Peatross was born on March 2, 1916, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1934.

He was then ordered to Camp Pendleton, California and attached to the 28th Marine Regiment under Colonel Harry B. Liversedge.

Peatross assumed duty as Regimental Operations officer and took part in extensive amphibious training of the regiment.

The 28th Marines were ordered back to the United States for deactivation in December and Peatross returned to Quantico, Virginia as an instructor with the Tactical Section, The Basic School, for the next three years.

He later graduated from North Carolina State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1939.

Peatross joined the Marine Corps on November 6, 1940, and due to his university degree he was selected for the Officer's Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

He completed the school on February 20, 1941, and was commissioned a second lieutenant on that date.

Peatross was then ordered to San Diego, California, and assigned to the newly activated 2nd Marine Division under Major General Clayton B. Vogel.

He volunteered for the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion when the Marine Raiders units were formed in February 1942 and took part in the intensive training at Camp Elliott under famous lieutenant colonel Evans F. Carlson.

The Second Marine Raiders sailed for Hawaii in May 1942 for advanced instruction in rubber boat operations and landings from submarines.

Peatross was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and appointed platoon commander with Company B. The 2nd Raider Battalion was subsequently ordered for Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands in order to destroy Japanese installations, take prisoners and gain intelligence.

During the raid, he led a reinforced squad of a dozen Raiders in one of 18 rubber boats off one of two U.S. submarines, but did not receive word on a change of plan in the landing area.

He led his 12 men onto the original planned landing site, while the other 17 boats landed on a different beach.

Peatross distinguished himself during that action on August 17–18 and received Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

His official Navy Cross Citation reads:

"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Oscar Franklin Peatross (MCSN: 0-7196), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a Platoon Commander of Company B, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin in the Gilbert Islands on 17 and 18 August 1942. When extremely rough seas forced his separation from the rest of the raiding party, Captain Peatross boldly landed his men behind the enemy lines and attacked a superior enemy force. Continuing to harass the enemy's rear, thereby creating confusion in their ranks, Captain Peatross' daring tactics caused one of the enemy's aerial bombing formations to bomb its own troops. In this forceful and courageous engagement he and his group killed or wounded fifteen Japanese.

His resourcefulness, leadership and personal valor were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

The 2nd Raider battalion was then ordered to Espiritu Santo for rest and reequipment and Peatross was promoted to the rank of captain and appointed company commander.

After few months of rest, they were ordered to Guadalcanal at the beginning of November 1942 in order to reinforce other Marine units fighting there since August.

Peatross spent 30 days behind enemy lines within Carlson's patrol and returned to Espiritu Santo in February 1943.

He also received Navy Presidential Unit Citation for unit's performance during Guadalcanal Campaign.

Following the formation of 2nd Marine Regiment in September 1943, Peatross was appointed regimental operations officer under Lieutenant Colonel Alan Shapley.

He also held additional duty as regimental executive officer and sailed with the regiment to Bougainville and took part in the Occupation and Defense of Cape Torokina in November–December 1943.

Peatross was promoted to the rank of major at the beginning of 1944 and ordered back to the United States, where he attended the Command and Staff School at Quantico.

He sailed with his regiment as the part of 5th Marine Division under Major General Keller E. Rockey to Hawaii in October 1944 and after another four months of training, they headed for Iwo Jima.

In February 1945, he took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was the Regimental Operations Officer of the 28th Marines and also held temporary duty as executive officer of 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines.

For his service on Iwo Jima, Peatross received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and also his second Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Following Iwo Jima, 28th Marines sailed back for Hawaii in order to prepare for Invasion of Japan, but the surrender of the Empire at the beginning of September 1945 changed the plans.

Haynes subsequently sailed to Japan with his regiment and took part in the occupation duties at Sasebo.

Peatross was transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky in summer 1949 and served as the Amphibious Warfare Instructor at the United States Army Armor School.

While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on January 1, 1951.

During the Korean War, Peatross was transferred to Far East and appointed commander of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in September 1952.

He took part in the "Outpost War", when his battalion came under heavy enemy fire during the building and rebuilding of fortifications.

He frequently toured the front-line positions to keep abreast of the construction operations and to familiarize himself with the tactical situation.

During the period when the unit was in a reserve status, he constantly strived for greater combat efficiency through extensive training programs.

Peatross was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service in Korea.

He was ordered back to the United States in February 1954 and assumed duties at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., as assistant head, Officer Procurement Branch, Personnel Department.

In 1993, the parade deck at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island was named for Peatross.