Raymond Peterson (b. 1925) grew up in Montpelier, Idaho. He was drafted into the army in November 1943 and was assigned to an intelligence and reconnaissance platoon in the 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Division. He recalls his first combat experience in the Colmar region of Germany on Christmas Eve 1944, discovering the operation sites of the new Messerschmidt 262 jet aircraft, liberating one of the work camps associated with Dachau, and serving in the army of occupation. He was discharged in 1946.