Stanhope Sailor on Navy Wounded List
Washington, D. C.—(AP)—The navy department Monday announced that James Lyle Peterson of Stanhope, Iowa, was among the navy enlisted men wounded during the period Dec. 7 to April 15, inclusive.
Peterson, a yeoman, in the navy, is the son of John C. Peterson of Stanhope, The extent of his injuries was not announced.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, May 11, 1942
James Peterson Awarded Purple Heart
COVETED HONOR TO STRATFORD YOUTH IN NAVY
Parents, However, Have Had No Word of Son Since May.
For meritorious service and wounds received in action, James Lyle Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peterson of Stratford, has been awarded the Order of the Purple Heart, army and navy authorities in Washington, D. C., announced Tuesday. The youth has been reported missing in the Philippines since May 13.
The announcement of the award came as a thrilling surprise to the youth’s parents who have had no word of their son since May when the war department notified them that the sailor, a yeoman, who served on the submarine tender Connotes, was missing near Manila.
Lends Hope
Whether the award was made directly or posthumously was not stated in the notice, thereby lending strength to the parents’ hope that their son in alive and safe, or perhaps a prisoner of the Japanese following the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.
The Purple Heart award was given to three officers and 18 enlisted men all for action on Bataan peninsula. Peterson was one of three Iowa sailors to win the award, being cited for action at Longoskawayan Point, Jan. 25. He was reported wounded Feb. 5.
The youth entered the navy at the age of 17, four years ago, shortly after graduating from Stanhope high school and went to China with the Asiatic fleet. He won distinction as a boxer and came through to take the feather-weight boxing championship of the Asiatic fleet and later won the same class title in the All-Service championship bouts at Manila.
Ship Scuttled
The submarine tender on which he was serving was reported scuttled to prevent its capture by the Japanese, and it is generally considered the youth was injured in this action although no direct word has ever been received concerning his part in it.
Two other Iowans who received the same award were Floyd Ottis Conn, 24, boatswain’s mate of Indianola, and Edwin Henry Jahn, 26, seaman, of Clinton. John was cited for action at Longoskawayan Point, the same location noted in Peterson’s award.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, September 15, 1942
YOUTH LISTED AS PRISONER
Stratford—Listed as missing since the fall of Bataan, Leon Eckstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Eckstein of Stratford, has just been reported a prisoner of the Japanese somewhere in the Philippine islands.
The Ecksteins received this first word of their son’s whereabouts through the American Red Cross.
The youth is a veteran of eight years naval service and is the third Stratford serviceman to be reported as Japanese captives in the last few months.
Marshall Appenzeller, a marine, and James Lyle Peterson of the navy, were previously announced as Jap prisoners after being listed as missing since the fall of the Philippines.
Two other Stratford naval men are still missing in action. They are Arnold Wilcox, one of the first reported casualties of the war, and Alfred E. (Shorty) Daniels, who was reported lost in action late in April.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, May 6, 1943
SENDS MESSAGE
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peterson of Stratford have received their first message from their son, James Lyle Peterson, yeoman second class, since he was taken prisoner by the Japanese following the fall of Bataan.
Now at Osaka prison camp where he was transferred a short while ago, Yeoman Peterson writes, “I am in Osaka prison camp. I am in excellent health. I am working for pay. See that you are taken care of.”
His address: James Lyle Peterson, Y-2c, American Prisoner of War, Osaka Camp, Japan, Osaka Umeda Brusho, via New York City, N. Y.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, August 17, 1943
SAILOR FOUND ALIVE, WELL
James Lyle Peterson, Y2c, Is Featured in WHO Broadcast.
James Lyle Peterson, Y 2/c, of Stratford, brother of Mrs. Woodrow Christenson of this city, has been released from a Japanese prison camp and is well, according to a Jack Shelley radio broadcast over WHO Monday night.
Peterson, who served aboard the sub tender, Canopus, was stationed at Manila when the Japs attacked in December, 1941, Following his capture he was located at Cabanatuan prison camp until November and from there was sent by ship to Osaka, Japan.
Shelley’s broadcast stated that the trip took 19 days and 10 men died in the crowded hold of the prison ship. The sordid conditions of life under the Japs was told, and it was stated that 109 out of a group of 450 captives died during imprisonment.
Peterson was stationed at Osaka until May, 1945, and was then moved to 300 miles west of Tokyo. Apparently he had been released or had escaped from that camp, and had set out for Tokyo when he met American occupation troops and Correspondent Shelley.
Shelley reported that the Stratford sailor was in good shape. He said he had lost about 30 pounds at one time during his captivity.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, September 11, 1945
Lyle Peterson, 73, Webster City
Lyle Peterson, 73, Webster City, died Dec. 1, 1994 at Hamilton County Public Hospital. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday as Asbury United Methodist Church with Rev. Vernon Sorensen officiating. Masonic services will be conducted by Acacia Lodge at 7:30 p.m. today at Foster Funeral Home. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by American Legion Post 191. Visitation is after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home until 9:30 a.m. Saturday when the casket will be taken to the church.
James Lyle Peterson, son of Carl and Effie (Brooke) Peterson, was born Feb. 16, 1921, at Kamrar. He attended school at Stanhope, graduating in 1938. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving eight years in the Pacific Theatre. Following his discharge, he attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and the New Mexico School of Mines at Soccororo, N.M.
On Sept. 12, 1948, he married Opal Marie Shannon at Storm Lake. He was employed in civil service for five years at Albuquerque, N.M. and for 20 years in Waukegan, Ill. He retired from civil service work in 1971 and moved to Webster City.
He is survived by his wife, Opal; daughter and son-in-law, Mavis and Robert Dunlap of Medford, N.J.; sons and daughter-in-law, Jay and Julie Peterson and Jeff Peterson, all of Webster City; two grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Yolanda Fuller of Bradgate and Jeannine Peterson of Dayton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jacqueline; parents; sister Clovis Christenson; and brother, Edward Peterson.
He was a member of Acacia Lodge No. 176 AF & AM, Disabled American Veterans of Fort Dodge; American Legion Post 191 and Webster City Moose Lodge.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, December 2, 1994
James Lyle Peterson, Yeoman Second Class U.S. Navy - MIA/POW
James Lyle Peterson was born Feb. 16, 1921 to John Carl and Effie Mae Brooks Peterson. He died Dec. 1, 1994, and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
James served aboard the USS Canopus (AS-9) which was severely damaged Dec. 29, 1941, and the survivors joined the ground forces in defense of Bataan and Corregidor. He was first reported wounded and later missing in action. He became a prisoner of war of the Japanese at Osaka Main Camp, Chikko, Osaka.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and POW medal.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
WW2pow.info
Military Times Hall of Valor
