Pat and Family, Linda and I were extremely saddened by the news of Pete's passing. Pete and I go back over 60 years from 1962 when we were shipmates aboard USS Agerholm (DD 826). When Pete brought his bride to the West Coast, I helped you and Pete move into your apartment on Coronado. We were classmates and next door neighbors at Navy Housing in Monterey while Pete and I were studying at U.S. Naval Post Graduate School. Pete and I were shipmates, fishing buddies, drinking and golfing buddies and friends. We had adventures together in San Diego, in Monterey, in Subic Bay and Hong Kong when we both made a port visit at the same time in 1967, when he was Executive Officer aboard USS Cook (APD 130) and I had command of USS White River (LSMR 536). We had a few drinks together in 1968 when White River rearmed in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, where to my delight my friend Pete was Communications Officer at the Naval Station. Our duty stations diverged at that point, however, we managed to stay in touch with fishing in Virginia, visits to Montague where Linda and I had the pleasure of staying with Pop Roder while you and Pete made an urgent trip east to Philadelphia, and a couple visits back and forth while Linda and I were RVing and you and Pete were traveling. We were also able to join you and the family for Steve's wedding in San Diego. Pete was an exemplary Naval Officer, husband and father, the Navy and the country are better places for his being with us. The country and the Navy owe Pete, you, and the family, a debt of gratitude for his 34 years of service that can never be repaid.
If age and distance had not conspired to preclude travel, I would be with you at the funeral ceremony to give Pete a final salute and personally express condolences.
William Carlson
Rear Admiral USN (ret.)