PVT Joe Francis Peters Jr

PVT Joe Francis Peters Jr was born in 1924 in Bossier City, Louisiana. He was the 6th of the 7 children born to Joe Francis and Mary (Geppe) Peters. Both parents were natives of Sicily. His father managed a farm & store and then became the proprietor of a fruit market. By 1940 mother Mary was managing a retail grocery and all the other kids were working in one or the other of these ventures. Joe graduated from Bossier City High School in 1942.

Joe was drafted in July 1943 and was trained at Camp Barkeley, Texas (about 11 miles southwest of Abilene). He was then sent to England where he was eventually assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and then attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry. It was there that he probably received whatever training he was given for the amphibious assault that took place at Omaha Beach. PVT Peters was killed in action in that landing on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Peters rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Joe's brother John Peters served in the Army during WW2 and youngest brother, Salvatore Peters, served in the Air Force 1954-1957.