Sunshine Girls’ ‘Valentine Veteran’

By Lee Henry

Our Valentine Veteran Sterling Roger Peltier lives in Daleville and neighbors know him as Cole. He will be 93 in May and he shared a few stories of his time in Korea with us. He said he signed up for the Marines with a flip of a coin when he and his friends couldn’t decide which service to join.

At 15 years old. along with many others who lied about their age, he was off to Boot Camp to Parris Island, S.C. Cole then went on to Camp Lejeune to FMF, which stands for Fleet Marine Force, for weapon training. He described that in learning about weapons, they had to assemble them as they were all laid out on large tables with pieces spread everywhere. Every weapon they had. from rifles, mortars, bazooka 3.2 rocket launchers and more, they had to put them back together.

We learned what a muzzle velocity was as he explained the speed of bullet going thru a rifle barrel. Cole was also a flame thrower. He then told us about the sports recreation part of his time there as a boxer, fighting some guys much larger than him. He was only 145 pounds and remembers fighting guys over 200 pounds. He also was a swimmer and on the diving team.

He told us of the marches and field activity. saying they were always learning. He remembers how awful the sand fleas were at Parris Island and then described the green mossy water with snakes, calling it “Swamp Lejeune,” laying in water up to his chin. He said, “It wasn’t a free trip and you never had a break. Fear was nothing, no fear whatsoever.”

Cole boarded the APA ship in Norfolk. These Amphibious Assault Ships, he said, carried a few thousand guys from all over the U.S. He said some were tough and some acted cute– he stayed with the bigger guys. They traveled to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, back to Norfolk and then onto the Mediterranean. He mentioned how beautiful Rome was and how he’d pick there to retire if he had a choice where to live.

He showed us a book that a friend did in the Marine Corps and was very proud to have his photo in that book. He recalled Margaret Higgins was the photographer. Cole told us of the invasion in Inchon led under General Douglas MacArthur. He said they took to the fields the first day they landed in Kimpo Air Field.

He said it was “kill or be killed” and told us that was the Marine Corps’ slogan. We think Cole was one of the tough guys as he told us his buddies nicknamed him Duke after John Wayne. Cole did say he wished they had weapons back then that they have today. They were all close buddies who stuck together.  They played poker and remembers they would play for Chesterfield cigarettes by Liggett & Myers.

We found it interesting they were made in Virginia and named after Chesterfield County. He continued to share many stories of his time at Kimpo and the Quonset huts, and we heard about the grave registration, which brought us to tears. He said he remembers General MacArthur with his corncob pipe and said he really respected the Marines.

General Ridgway, he said, walked around like Sylvester Stallone, that’s all he said about him. Cole went on to tell us of his time in the Army hospital after being injured from an explosion. After two weeks and seeing many guys with terrible injuries with some wrapped up like mummies, he couldn’t take it anymore and just walked out!

The lieutenant was surprised to see he had left the hospital on his own and told him that he was glad to have him back! Cole found his own outfit all by himself and got right back in the field. He said they were like a maverick, could do anything and be wild. It then came time for his discharge. He said they knew when you’d had enough and would let you go.

He said, “No one complained, you had a job to do and you did it.” He repeatedly would say that we were all brothers and looked out for one another. He remembers several names and told us many stories, one on how they’d make bets on who was going to get shot, saying to each other “today is your day.” They were very proud to be a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He said, “War was hell and it doesn’t leave you.” He recalls several times after he was out of the service, jets would fly over his house and he’d duck under the kitchen table still afraid. PTSD we know is with so many of these soldiers today. His first job he worked at a grocery store when he was approached by the Mafia. The man offered him a job, nice clothes and a car.

Cole said they knew he was a brave Marine and said they really wanted him on their staff. But Cole told us he “had too much religion in his heart to get involved in that.” He worked his way to the top with just a eighth grade education. He worked for Noland Plumbing & Heating Company for 25 years. He kept getting promotions up to being chief clerk.

One interesting story he told us was he went to a roofing school and worked for a roofing company out of Michigan as a sales rep. Cole said he sold the thermoplastic oval roof to the Salem Civic Center.  He said he loved to sell and loved teaching what he learned to others.  He even said he taught Dale Carnegie Courses in Roanoke. He pointed to the top of his bookshelves as he still has all his books.

We learned a lot listening to Cole and he pointed out the 16 ribbons on his cap that stand for every battle he was in and some for good conduct. In ending our visit we asked what he would say to today’s youth in this year 2022.

His comment was, “Be what you are, do your best, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and just make your life better.”