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Submitted: 8/19/21 • Approved: 8/24/21 • Last Updated: 8/27/21 • R448580-G0-S3
TECHNICAL SERGEANT United States Army Air Forces
World War II
October 20, 1920 - November 28, 2016
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War
James Leroy Peteete was born October 20, 1920, in Singleton, Grimes County, Texas to John Henry Peteete and Olive "Ollie" Blount. He is the brother of Ollie Evelyn (Peteete) Gilbert.
James married Clarice Elaine Kelly on Oct. 19, 1946, in Topeka, Kansas.
From this union they had the 6 sons and 2 daughters:
James Kelly Peteete
Terry Lynn Peteete
John Michael Peteete
Matthew Wayne Peteete
Sean Timothy Peteete
Patrick Leroy Peteete
Linda Elaine (Peteete) Maxey
Rebecca Sue(Peteete) Herrman
Mr. Peteete was a retired union ironworker. He helped to build missile silos throughout Kansas, along with many other projects in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. One such project was the Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas.
James was a U.S. veteran of the Army Air Corp where he attained the rank of Technical Sergeant. During his distinguished military career he was stationed in England as a Staff Sergeant flight engineer with the 458th Heavy Bombardment Group, 8th USAAF.
During his service he was part of the first Daylight Bombing Run over Berlin. On March 6, 1944, his plane, under attack and badly damaged, made it as far as Holland where, crippled, it went down. He was captured, becoming a Prisoner of War (POW) for 15 months. He received a Purple Heart and the Golden Caterpillar award for his service, as well as the European Theater of Operations ribbon.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hays and the Hays Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9076.
Gardening, canning, woodworking, fishing, deer, coon and game bird hunting were some of his favorite activities. He also ran the Hays Farmers Market for over 30 years.
He was the proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
TSGT James Leroy Peteete died November 28, 2016 at the age of 96 at his home in Hays, Ellis County, Kansas. He is buried in Grimes County, Texas at Bedias Baptist Cemetery with his mother, father and sister.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICES. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. REST IN PEACE.
Contributed on 8/19/21 by deanakh1
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Record #: 448580
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