Fred Henry Van Peer

LTC (Ret) Fred H. Van Peer

Fred Van Peer was born in Eindhoven, The Netherlands on December 12, 1945 to Nick and Helen Van Peer. He immigrated to the USA in 1954 with his parents and became a naturalized citizen on September 18, 1963. He enlisted in the US Army on January 25, 1966 and retired on September 1, 1992. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer on March 20, 1967 and later completed the Airborne Course, Ranger School and flight School to become an Army Aviator.

His career took him to many different places to include Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Ord, CA; Fort Benning, GA; Berlin, Germany; Fort Wolters, TX; Fort Rucker, AL; Fort Knox, KY; Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Frankfurt, Germany; Fort Dix, NJ; Wichita State University ROTC, Wichita, KS; and Marion Military Institute ROTC, Marion, AL. After his retirement he continued to wear the uniform as the Senior Army Instructor of the Benson High School JROTC Program from 1992 to 2008.

Fred’s military decorations among others include The Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star Medal and 23 awards, one with (V) device, of The Air Medal.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Helen Van Peer, brother Robert. Survived by wife Judy, daughter Carly (Zack Gilbert), Grand daughter Elena. brother Richard (Ann) of Safety Harbor, FL and sister Nicole of St. Petersburg, FL.