Sandhills Benefits From Peterson’s Generosity

 

Every day, hundreds of students pass beneath an overhead that reads “Peterson Dining Commons.” Many may have wondered who was honored with the name of this area?

Dale “Pete” Peterson enjoyed a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and retired with the rank of captain. During World War II, he had the illustrious honor of making the most carrier night landings during the entire war. 

His service in WWII emanated from an interrupted vacation. “I was accepted into flight school and did my first tour of duty in Pearl Harbor. In December 1941, I had been granted a two-week leave, and I went to San Francisco.”

A commanding officer, who had heard of Peterson’s planned trip, extended an invitation for a round of golf. “We were on the course on December 7, 1941, playing golf, when an admiral’s aid ordered us to return immediately,” said Peterson. The war had begun.

Peterson describes his most fascinating experience in the war as also the most tragic. “I was in the Battle of the Phillipine Sea, and we were making a high speed run-out. We had been attacking Yokohama, when a typhoon approached. My carrier was always accompanied by several destroyers. Right before the storm, the destroyers had just refueled, so they were top-heavy. When the typhoon hit, the extra weight on top caused all four destroyers to roll over into the sea, and we lost everyone on board. It was the most terrible thing I’ve ever seen,” he recollected.

Peterson resides in Pinehurst for part of the year.  His generous philanthropic contributions to the college do not go unrecognized. He has served on the board of the Sandhills Community College Foundation and continues to be a positive influence on the college.