First Name: Freddie
Last Name: Peugh
Middle Initial: J
Date of Birth: 03/20/1945
Sex: Male
Martial Status: Married
Number of Children: Yes
Home Town: Dewey, Oklahoma
Education Completed: Not Sure
Other Occupations:
Branch of Service: Marines
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Serial Number: N/A
Platoon: N/A
Age at Start of Service: 18
Years of Service: 5 to 10
Combat Veteran: Yes
Time in Combat: Not Sure
Place of Combat: N/A
Awards:
Date of Suicide: 01/1988
Suicide Method: Firearm
Veteran’s Story: Fred was 17 when he got caught stealing hubcaps off cars.His parents had to make a decision of whether or not to send him to jail or to have him enlist in the military. His parents decided to have him enlisted in the army. He was in the Army from 1962 to 1965 where he served in Korea.After his Honorable discharge from the army in 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1965 and remained active until 1971 when he was declared a disabled veteran. He served 5 Tours of duty in Vietnam. There is a picture of Fred in Time Life Combat Photography. More importantly and certainly not to take away anything from My Dad I would like everyone to know what a kind Compassoinate Human being Fred was. Fred was not my biological dad.But he was more of a father to me -more of a parent to me than I could ever put into words. I am not certain Fred new how important he was to me but I want the world to know. I Hope someone contemplating suicide might reconsider after reading this. I met Fred when I was in the 5th grade My mother was single and trying to raise three children. I was a bit of a trouble maker skipping school that kind of thing and my mom and Fred worked at the same grocery store together. He was dating my mom and I had gotten into some trouble. He took me into his home and that night was the first night I got my home work done. I always wanted to participate in different activities and was never allowed because my mother couldn’t afford it. Fred got me a saxaphone. I got to try out for cheerleader and he bought the uniforms for me. He came to my pep rallies and attended my class plays. When I got selected for Homecomming attendant he went with me to buy the dress and payed for it. My sister was in collegfe when my mom started dating Fred and he helped her cosign for a truck when she would come home on the weekends–Fred did her laundry and bought her groceries. He cared about our whole family. I don’t know if he knew how much he meant to us. I could say so much more about him but most importantly is that he was the kindest Man I have ever met. I will never forget him. I am a special person because of what he gave me. Fred loved nature, besides working two jobs to support us, he spent every night in the summer working in the yard feeding the rose bushes. He proudly built and displayed the American Flag, P.O.W. Flag and the U.S. Marine Corps. Flag. Fred even flew the flags during all kinds of weather Stating I fought whether it was rain or shine. No one can take that away from me. He was a very patriotic man and was disturbed at the thought of someone suggesting that the Vietnam War was a waste of time. He said “A little country needed our help- That’s what makes our country so great- We are a country that will help the underdogs.” Fred was a wonderful compassionate man despite of his horrible recollections of seeing women and children dying he was not a bitter man. He mowed our elderly neighbors yard, and was always concerned for mankind. He instilled in me how important it is to get a college education and he taught me how to make things beautiful. I never realize the significance of how challenging it must of been to find beauty after all that he endured. There were many nights while he was sleeping that he would have flash backs and would be screaming get down, get down they just bombed us. I now understand how truly remarkable he was just being able to overcome that experience and to be able to care for someone else. He will always Be Loved and There will never be a day that My Dad Freddie Joe Peugh will not be thought of. He and his mother would correspond while he was in Vietnam and they would close with the aying “Forget me not Forget me never until the Oklahoma Sun goes down forever.
Submitted By: Angela J. Evans
Relationship to Veteran: Child
