Vern O. Peters — Remembrance of General John Stannard
When John took command of the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry (Airmobile), he selected Vern O. Peters as his command sergeant major. Peters, who later retired as a Captain, wrote the following for Stannard's TogetherWeServed memorial:
John was a very stern person. Having served as an enlisted man, he understood the needs of his men. As brigade commander, John was tops. Any time someone in our brigade was in combat, he was there to support his men. On many missions, John would fly in to pick up the wounded when our air ambulance would not go in. He would not leave a member of his command in trouble if there was any way he could get to them.
We had a sergeant missing in action. For four days we checked the area for him, receiving ground fire each time. Finally, on the fifth day we spotted him at the edge of a clearing; down we went, and he hand picked the NCO out. Although we received small arms fire, everyone was safe.
John was a good friend and his death is a big loss.
John was awarded a third Silver Star and his third Combat Infantryman's Badge in Vietnam.
