"Like many 18-year-olds who sign up to serve with the U.
S.
He would go on to become the First African American pilot, then.
At the time military opportunities were limited for blacks, so it was remarkable that Petersen, revealed here as an intense go-getter, was admitted to the highly competitive naval aviation cadet program.
The difference between him and the average kid of 1950, when he enlisted, was that Petersen was African American.
Navy, Petersen was looking for adventure when he enlisted. "Like many 18-year-olds who sign up to serve with the U.
S