KS SR1719

Kansas Senate honors Danny J. Petersen, born March 11, 1949, in Horton, Kansas, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1969 and served as a Specialist Fourth Class in the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam

On January 9, 1970, Sp4. Petersen positioned his armored personnel carrier to shield a disabled U.S. vehicle under attack by a North Vietnamese Army battalion, providing suppressive fire against enemy positions

Petersen carried his wounded driver 45 meters to safety through enemy fire, then returned to his vehicle and provided exposed covering fire during the withdrawal of remaining personnel

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Gerald Ford on July 17, 1974, along with a Bronze Star, Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Purple Heart

A portion of US-75 near Netawaka, Kansas, is named the "Danny J. Petersen Memorial Highway," and his name appears on Panel 14W-Line 20 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial