- Date Of Birth: September 30, 1944
- Date Of Death: April 28, 2018
- State: Idaho
Born James Edwin Coles on September 30, 1944, James entered school with his 2nd Father’s last name of Peterson, which became his legal name when he enlisted in the Marine Corp at the age of 18 (1962).
Out of Marine Corp boot camp, he served in the 2/5, then was assigned to the 3/5 in Arizona before being assigned to the 1/9 in Viet Nam. Ho Chi Minh named the 1/9 “the Walking Dead’, a name they wore with pride until the unit designation was retired due to 2/3rds of the platoon being decimated. The longest battle in Marine Corp history was still ongoing when James returned home. He found out about the final ending of the battle 2 hours after he got on the plane to return. Something that haunted him for the rest of his life.
In 1968 James married his best friend and the love of his life, Teresa Ann Enright, in Vancouver, Wash. on 1/5/1968. That same month he joined the Navy for two years. They enjoyed 50+ years of life adventures together. They had three children, Sandy, Paula and James Eddy. And five grandchildren. He got to see 4 of his grandkids graduate from high school and two of them from College.
Through the years he worked a variety of jobs, beginning with being a journeyman carpenter where he built everything from house to fine cabinetry. During the winter he drove taxi to supplement his income. He even worked as a race car mechanic at the Meridian Speedway. But the job he loved the most was working for the Boise School District for 23 years.
He enjoyed being outdoors all his life and so his life was filled with his favorite activities of hunting, camping and fishing. With fishing being his absolute favorite outdoor activity. Later in life he took up making pens on a wood lathe, a hobby that gave him great satisfaction. Always good with his hands, he could fix next to anything wooden or mechanical.
When walking became difficult and painful, he still got around with his wife Teresa on a scooter as the explored flea markets looking for treasures.
There is a saying, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”. James was living proof of that saying. He lived his life as Marine. Something he was always very proud of until the day he died. A Marine lives his life to serve and protect his family and his country, and while serving, living the philosophy “And so while this day might yet see him die, He never once stopped to wonder why”
James Edwin Peterson died at home on April 29, 2018.
