18th Bde.

        Pete was born in Switzerland on 26 September 1949 and moved to Sacramento with his parents, Erika and Walter Proserpi when he was 11 months old.

In Sacramento Pete attended Encina High School, where he was involved with a variety of activities, including Varsity track, Varsity Cross-Country, Student Council, German Club, and Le Cercle Francais.         Pete also worked out in boxing camp with Pete Ranzany and took part in the Golden Gloves Boxing Championship one year.         In March 1970 after enlisting in the Army Pete was processed at Fort Ord, California and was assigned to D Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade for basic training.         Upon completion in June he was assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia for advanced training at the US Army Military Police School where he received basic MP training for MOS 95B, and additional training as a correction specialist for MOS 95C.

On 22 September 1970 Pete reported to his first duty station at A Company, 30th MP Battalion, located at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.         In January 1971 the company was redesignated as the 170th MP Company. Pete's friend from MP School, Wolf Beatty, was able to stop by and visit him on his way to duty in South Korea.         It was during this time Pete volunteered for duty in Vietnam. In January 1971 Pete's request for duty in Vietnam was accepted and on 1 February Pete began his overseas processing.

~ Click on photograph for composite of photos ~

On 12 March Pete arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to C Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade located at Long Binh Post, III Corps Tactical Zone in Bien Hoa Provence. In March 1971 the Battalion underwent a major realignment and consolidation of duties and C Company was assigned all convoy escort responsibilities.

On 17 April 1971 during a convoy escort to Katum Pete's actions earned him a nomination for the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious Service. The award was issued 6 October 1976, Permanent Orders 65-2.

Meritorious achievement while driving the lead escort vehicle, a V-100 armored car, for a resupply convoy to a firebase at Katum along a narrow dirt road on 17 April 1971. The road was declared cleared by ARVN (editor..Army of the Republic of South Vietnam) troops responsible for conducting a mine detector sweep. The convoy was barely underway when a truck behind Specialist Proserpi’s vehicle hit a land mine injuring two soldiers. Specialist Proserpi assisted in their MEDEVAC after which the convoy continued with Specialist Proserpi visually searching for signs of land mines as he drove. He located seven additional mines, which he marked to enable the rest of the convoy to pass safely. After closing into Katum, Specialist Proserpi, with several other men, drove back down the road to the marked mines and destroyed them with explosives. His outstanding meritorious achievement was instrumental in preventing additional casualties, destruction of Army vehicles, and accomplishment of the mission and reflect great credit upon him and the United States Army.

In July 1971 Pete was medically evacuated from Vietnam to a military hospital at Camp Zama, Japan due to a severe case of dysentery. On 9 August 1971 he returned back to duty in Vietnam with C Company.

Reflection: I've been looking for Pete for years. I found him just this week (September 2005), and was devastated to learn that he died at such a young age with such a beautiful family. This time must have been particularly hard on his wife and young children. I'm so so sorry. Pete was an absolutely wonderful amazing human being. A finer man I've never known. His family should take great pride in knowing that. I met Pete in Long Binh, Vietnam in 1971. He was an MP (Military Policeman), I worked for the USO, and volunteered my time at the hospital. I was one of the few women to serve in Vietnam at the time. Pete had a fabulous sense of humor and was genuine. A very kind and thoughtful man, of course at the time he was barely 21, and so was I. I can only imagine he got better as he matured.  When I think back on those days I ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS SMILES AND JOKES. He always talked about his family his parents his sisters and brothers. Nicki Raube Maraulja, USO.

Pete's tour with C Company ended on 23 January 1972, his new orders assigning him after leave to Fort Meade, Maryland.

On 29 February Pete reported to Fort Meade, Maryland for duty with the 293rd MP Company until his enlistment commitment was completed on 15 March 1972.

In addition to the Bronze Star for meritorious service Pete also earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Expert Marksman Badge with Auto Rifle, Pistol, and Rifle bars.

After leaving active duty, Pete and his wife, Teresa, moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where he trained as a pastry chef. Once again Pete met up with his friend from MP school, Wolf Beatty, who was at that time stationed at Heidelberg, Germany. Pete and his wife eventually returned and settled in at South Lake Tahoe, California where he worked as a pastry chef. It was there Pete once again joined the Army, enlisting in the California National Guard, and assigned to the 126th Medical Transportation Company, at Mather Air Force Base, California.

It was at this point where unforeseen medical complications believed to be a legacy of military service in Vietnam would change the lives of the Proserpi family. The military records for the above outline, and a synopsis of the events leading to Pete's death along with a tribute to Pete posted on his high school website, have been provided by Pete's close friend from MP School, Wolf Beatty.

          I have been able to fill out the tragic details of the last years of Pete’s life from articles in both the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee, 5 October 1979 and 10 August 1980. It is a typical Agent Orange story, where Pete, while on duty with the National Guard, hit his leg with a car door while picking up his Executive Officer. Severe pain ensued, but during the six months of care at a military hospital, all he was told was that he suffered from a chipped bone and muscle inflammation. After six months of no improvement, Pete went to Stanford University Medical Center where they found a 4.5 lb cancerous tumor. The doctors were able to remove the tumor, but also had to amputate his leg. He bore that setback with his characteristic bravery. Pete received very little support from the veterans administration, and at one point, in his wheelchair, chained himself to a flagpole in Sacramento to protest the indifference of the military and the administration. In speaking recently to an official of the California National Guard, I was told that probably as a result of Pete’s protests, the laws have been changed and guardsmen and reservists are treated much better now. The cancer spread to his liver and his lungs and Pete passed away on August 8th, 1980. The cancer claimed his life, but could never claim his spirit. Pete was survived by his loving family, his wife Teresa, his daughter Angelisa, (who was 4 years old), and his sons Sonio (who was 16 months old) and Mario (who was 3 months old).

Several of Pete's classmates from Encina High School captured the essence of Pete’s spirit and personality when they wrote…"I have recollections of him as a very kind and unassuming individual whom I took an instant liking to. He seemed to move between classes with ease…never locking into one group, but possessing a grace and a charm that allowed him to move among all classes, cared for by all to whom he came in contact."

"Pete was a great guy and a comedian as well. He had a knack for making people laugh. He was a friend to all. I joined the Navy in 1975. When I was discharged in 1979 and came back home to Sacramento, there was Pete on the evening news protesting Agent Orange. Though I never did get to see him before he passed away I have always considered myself very lucky to have known him. I do believe there are a great many ex-military who served in Vietnam who owe their health today to the efforts initiated by Pete so long ago."

Another classmate, after reading my memorial-in-progress to Pete wrote…"I don’t know you but just wanted to tell you that what you wrote about Pete Proserpi was beautiful and right on…Thank you for this lovely thought. He so deserved it."

Like Corporal Pat Tillman, Pete was motivated by his love of family, friends, and country. He had a desire and commitment to make the world a better place. Pete was an inspiration to all who knew him. Even as the years have passed and we have been blessed by others who have touched our hearts, Pete’s spirit endures. Although sorely missed, Pete’s spirit lives on in our hearts and his strength and courage continues to inspire us.

Wilfred Gibson, a poet who survived the First World War, wrote: We who are left, how shall we look again Happily on the sun or feel the rain Without remembering how they who went Ungrudgingly and spent Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain? A bird among the rain-wet lilac sings – But we, how shall we turn to little things And listen to the birds and winds and streams Made holy by their dreams, Nor feel the heart-break in the heart of things?

Please let me know if you have any stories or photos you would like to share about Pete. This is the weblink to Pete's High School Alumni Page. http://www.encinahighschool.com/class68/memoriam.htm

I can be reached at wolf_fritsche@yahoo.com

Thank you, Wolf Beatty