100-Year-Old Edmond Veteran Receives Thunderbird Medal For Decades Of Service

Lieutenant Colonel Oren L. Peters knew what he wanted to do at the age of 17.

“I decided that I was going to be a soldier. I used to drop by the National Guard Armory, and they would let me oil rifles and straighten up things, I enjoyed it, I was learning something,” said the WWII & Korean War Veteran.

Enlisting in the 45th infantry division Oren served in World War II, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

“Wound up as the signal platoon sergeant and we spent 511 days in combat. That is more combat than any unit on the United States Army,” said Peters.

Oren also fought in the Invasion of Sicily.

“I look up…to death there was no way we were going to do a job that should have been done,” he said.

He returned home only to serve again in 1945 in the Korean War. The Oklahoma National Guard is rewarding him for his lifelong service with the Thunderbird Medal.

“I’ve only heard about it one time and I was really surprised when the General presented it to me,” he said.

At 100 years old Oren has some words of wisdom for younger people who are just starting out.

“I tell Boy Scouts and I tell the 5th grade students that I work with that if you don’t get your hands on it and find out what it is and show somebody else you haven’t learned anything!” said Peters.