The District of Columbia Chapter of the Montford Point
Marine Association held a Testimonial for Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen, Jr., USMC, Retired, on Sunday, February 20, 1994, at Bolling Air Force Base. Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., Commandant of
the Marine Corps, attended.
Gen. Petersen joined the U.S. Navy as a seaman apprentice in
June 1950. In 1951 he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program
and in October 1952, he completed flight training and accepted a
commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
His first tactical assignment was with Marine Fighter
Squadron 212 during the Korean Conflict. His second combat tour
came in Vietnam in 1968. He flew more than 350 combat missions
and has over 4,000 hours in various fighter/attack aircraft.
During his career, Gen. Petersen commanded a Marine Fighter
Squadron, a Marine Aircraft Group, a Marine Amphibious Brigade, a
Marine Aircraft Wing, and Marine Corps Combat Development
Command.
Gen. Petersen was the Marine Corps' first African-American
aviator, wing commander, base commander and general officer. He
retired from the Marine Corps on August 1, 1988. (Division of
Public Affairs, HQMC)
