Cobb County WW2 vet who fought at Iwo Jima dies at 94

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Eugene Peterson, a veteran living in Cobb County who fought on the front lines of history during World War II, has died. He was 94.

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Peterson joined the United States Marines Corp in 1942 as an 18-year old fresh out of high school. In his three years of service, he served in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima.

Speaking to FOX 5 this year, Peterson said he had no idea the historical significance of the battle of Iwo Jima while it was going on as a fresh-faced recruit. But even back then he felt something powerful as he witnessed the famous raising of the American flag during the battle.

Peterson had recently completed an account of his service during the war. What originally was started so that his children could have an understanding of what he went through turned into a 156-page document told from the perspective of a grunt.

"I just wanted to write a book about what the war meant to me," he said. "For those who were there, it's still part of our lives."

All of here at FOX 5 thank Eugene Peterson for his service and are sending our thoughts and prayers to his family during this time.