In what must be a rare occurrence among Iowa families,five brothers in the Peters family of Lansing, Iowa, served in the U.S. military for a combined total of seven decades. Three became career military men and four became members of the American Legion. One survives and is still a driving force behind the activities of Lansing’s Post 50.
Donald Peters, 73, of Lansing, says his parents, Clem and Helen Peters, instilled a love of country in their children. “They were very patriotic people. I think that’s why we got into the military—that’s just the way they felt about America.”
Kenneth was the first son to join the military. He signed up with the Marines in 1957, served two years and then joined the Air Force. Following their brother’s lead, Robert, Richard, Donald and Thomas each joined the Marines in turn. All but Kenneth served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Donald was the first to arrive in Vietnam. “I was there about six months when Bob came,” he says. “He was about fifty miles from where I was, and we got together one time. Then I left and Tom came. Tom was near Bob and they were able to see each other also. Then Bob left and Dick came. And then Dick left and Bob went back one more time.”
Only one brother, Richard, was injured in fighting, sustaining minor shrapnel wounds during the battle of Khe Sanh in 1968. Don says he worried most about Thomas, who often saw heavy fighting. “God was with him,” Don says. “One time he was one of three Marines left in his platoon who were not wounded or KIA.
Donald recalls meeting a Marine years later who had been walking behind Tom on patrol and had tripped a booby trap. The Marine lost his legs in the blast and remained Tom’s friend. Luckily Tom had just walked over and missed the trap.
Donald and Richard returned to Lansing after their tours and worked in auto service. Kenneth, Robert and Thomas remained in the military, serving in locations such as Spain, Hawaii, Alaska and many other places around the world and United States. The youngest brother, Vincent, tried to enlist but due to a medical reason was unable to do so. Vince lives in Tennessee and keeps a summer home in Lansing. The youngest in the family is a sister, Helene, and lives not far from Lansing. With their lives so far flung, Donald says, the Peters family were able to all gather together only two or three times for the rest of their lives. Ultimately, Robert, Thomas and Richard all passed away from the presumed effects of Agent Orange exposure. Kenneth has passed away, also, from other causes.
Robert, Richard, Donald and Thomas became active in Lansing American Legion Post 50 and in the Lansing VFW, Post 5981. Robert and Glen Reed of Lansing were responsible for getting the VFW Post reorganized as it was closed for several years. Donald is the Post 50 adjutant, having taken over in 2008 from Ralph Bartels, who had served in the position for fifty years. Ralph told Donald he had to keep the position for the next 50 years. As adjutant, Donald organizes the Post’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities. He also arranges the color guard and firing squad for veterans’ funerals and assigns members to work details for the American Legion and VFW’s annual fundraisers. Money raised goes into community projects such as memorials on Mt. Hosmer Memorial Veterans Park and a playground for children in the city park—new in 2018—Kee High School scholarships and activities and sending students to Iowa Boys State.
The Marine family tradition has kept growing through a son, nephews and grandsons. Seventy years after the first Peters brother signed up to join the Marines, the Peters family is still involved in service for the love of community and country.
