Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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Petersburg Plays Role in Twentieth Century Wars Petersburg also played an important role in our twentieth century wars. Her first troops in World War I were in the 80th Division, a group composed largely of Virginians and Pennsylvanians. Now the united North and South were fighting a common enemy on foreign soil. Camp Lee, outside of the city, became the mobilization sight for the Virginia National Guard. World War II brought a re-opening of Camp Lee which soon became Fort Lee, a perma- nent Army post. Men from all over the country were stationed here to prepare them for fighting abroad. Petersburg was honored to produce two broth- ers holding the rank of general. These two leaders. Brigadier General Lee Saunders Gerow and four star General Leonard Townsend Gerow, brought great fame to their native city. Eighty-nine Petersburg men gave the ultimate, their lives, to suppress the enemy. When Korea asked for help, our city once again responded by giving her men for the cause of freedom. Throughout the years, Petersburg’s participation in wars has not only been in the form of giving her soldiers but also in group efforts to build morale among the troops. Various churches and civic or- ganizations began entertaining the thousands of young men stationed at the nearby Army base. Other or- ganizations knitted clothing, made bandages, and raised money for those troops abroad. Individuals on the home front aided their country by contributing to scrap drives or serving as wardens and supervisors in blackouts. Together and individually Petersburgers did their part to win the wars. Facts and figures combine to show that the Cockade City has main- tained her reputation for active patriotism in the twentieth century which had been won in previous conflicts. 6

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Exhibited 1861 - 65 be discriminating about a man’s age. Also among these defenders were persons from the hospitals and jails, dubbed “the patients and the penitents.” Armed with inferior muskets and rifles, this gal- lant band, under the leadership of Major Fletcher H. Archer, bravely held off two attacks and retreated only when the third made further resistance impos- sible unless all were to be captured or killed. So hopelessly outnumbered, Petersburg’s garrisons were defeated. In the still, warm June evening ambulances delivered the dead to the doors of their homes. Even the Union General Benjamin F. Butler, known by the nickname “Beast” because of his ruthless cruelty, gave testimony that Petersburg was defended by “old men and boys, the grave and the cradle being robbed in about equal proportions.” The Battle of the Crater and further attacks brought an eventual end of Petersburg’s protection and ultimately, the Confederacy. Though defeated, these men had fought bravely for those ideals in which they believed. St. PAiii ' f I.l? STAFF wnm.I J- “E AND THE siege of FETERSBURG mis chumhI! I VlMiWA MNSEBVATieK ft COMWISSIOH t(st cm M- PeT£«S»8RS ' 8 5

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Goals Scholastic Academics 1 0 Service Activities 40 Social Student Life 76 Athletic Sports 1 58 Financial Ads J 80 1