Vic Peters was born into a family of six boys, of whom five served in the military, and was raised in the Independence area attending Alton and Bristol schools. After high school, Vic worked for Butler Manufacturing in the production of military equipment.
Vic was inducted into the Army Air Corps in August 1942 earning $21 per month and was soon sent to Wisconsin to attend Radio Operators school, to learn the Morse Code. When completing his schooling Vic had his first physical exam by a doctor, the previous exams were conducted by Army medics, and found he was nearly blind in one eye. The doctor put a big red stamp on his records causing him to be rejected from overseas duty where his division was headed. He went back to the barracks and cried because the rest of his 400 buddies were shipping out, only to hear later that most of them were killed while landing at Guadalcanal.
His next destination was Dayton, Ohio with the Air Force Material Command where all orders for equipment, fuel, and aircraft parts originated. He was assigned to the Communications Office (called a Trick Chief) to make out work schedules for both civilian and military personnel.
Vic met his future wife in the Procurement Division and married in October of 1943. Morse Code operators became teletype operators of which 225 were trained by Vic. After the Japanese surrender, Vic and his bride came home to Independence and back to work at Butler while attending school. He worked there the next 38 years and when he retired joined the volunteer forces at the Indep. Police Department with the Citizen on Patrol (COPS program), then the Indep. Regional Hospital, and now still volunteers with the Truman Presidential Library. Vic credits Harry Truman with saving his life and the many thousands more with the dropping of the bomb. In fact, after all had settled after the war and Truman’s presidency, Vic met Harry in 1950 and personally thanked him for his acts as president. He learned too that Harry’s cousin was Vic’s 7th grade teacher. What a small world it is!
Vic and his wife, Alice, have been married 66 years and reside in Independence.
Vic’s military history can be viewed in Veterans' Hall in the Parks and Recreation Truman Memorial Building, 416 W. Maple.
– This is part of a weekly feature on local veterans submitted by Helen Matson, volunteer program director for the city of Independence, 816-325-7860.
