Lt. Col. Peter Joshua Warren Taylor's Obituary
Peter Joshua Warren Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) U.S. Army Retired Peter Joshua Warren, 74, suddenly passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma from natural causes. PJ was born in Gore, Oklahoma, January 6, 1936, to Wallace William Warren and Claresie McMahan Warren. He graduated from Gore High School as salutatorian in 1953. He earned his associate degree from Connors State College and then became an ROTC cadet at Oklahoma State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. After graduation from OSU, he entered the United States Army on January 25, 1958, as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His career in the United States Army spanned 21 years. He retired from the United States Army, September 30, 1978, as a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), although he was on the Colonel’s list for active promotion but had to return to Gore due to the death of his father. LTC Warren served Army tours at USAEUR Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany; 2 separate combat tours in Vietnam; a 2-year duty for the United Nations Command in Seoul, South Korea; and many similar commands in the United States. During his combat tours in Vietnam, LTC Warren earned two (2) Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star. Targeted by the Viet Cong, he was severely wounded in the field and spent 9 months recuperating at Brook Army Medical Center in Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio. Notwithstanding his wounds, he voluntarily returned to Vietnam for a second tour as a Battalion Commander. Subsequently, LTC Warren attended the Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and then was selected as an instructor at the college for 4 years. While in Korea, LTC Warren served as Chief Protocol Officer for 4-Star General Richard G. Stilwell. He hosted President Gerald Ford and his security personnel on President Ford’s official visit to South Korea. General Stilwell praised LTC Warren’s outstanding work, To Colonel Pete Warren, As dedicated and outgiving professional as I have ever known. No one has done more to enhance the reputation of this command than have you. My admiration is unbounded. General Stilwell awarded LTC Warren the Legion of Merit, a military decoration awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The Legion of Merit (Commander degree) is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order, the other being the Medal of Honor. During his illustrious US Military career, LTC Warren earned various honors, including: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with Numeral 1; Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Service Stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal-1st Class; Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Sam-IL Medal. PJ married his high school sweetheart Barbara Carolyn Johnston on July 12, 1955. They traveled the world with their 4 children during his military career. LTC Warren loved serving his church, spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Once retired, PJ and Barbara continued traveling across North America in their RV. Many times, they stayed at military RV campsites to enjoy the scenery and meet other military retirees. On large family vacations to Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon and Hawaii, PJ would gather the family around the campfires and tell stories of his military exploits, combat stories and other frightening ghost stories that would have the younger grandchildren clinging to their sleeping bags. PJ had a fun-loving heart and looked forward to Veterans Day or shooting fireworks off on July 4th. On many occasions, LTC Warren spoke at schools and other events celebrating Veterans and Memorial Day. LTC Warren served God, his family and his country with excellence during his lifetime. He will be sorely missed. Visitation will be Monday June 21st at Floral Haven Funeral Home, 6500 South 129th East Avenue, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday June 22nd at 10:00 AM at Heritage United Methodist Church, 5300 East Kenosha (East 71st Street), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74014. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations go to the Heritage United Methodist Church Building Fund in memory of PJ Warren. Interment will be at 1:00 PM Tuesday with full military honors at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery following the memorial service.Survived By: He is survived by his wife and children: daughter Annette and husband Jim Backlar of Harrogate, England; daughter Robin and husband Lloyd Froese of Inola, OK; son Mark and wife Eileen Warren of Broken Arrow, OK; son Paul and wife Dayna Warren of Coppell, TX; grandchildren: Tiffany and husband Phil McDonald of Davis, OK; Chad and wife Vanessa Warren of Owasso, OK; Clayton and Sharon Froese of Inola, OK; Samuel and Schuyler Backlar of Harrogate, England; Kyle and Bryce Warren of Broken Arrow, OK; Courtney and Blake Warren of Coppell, TX; great-grandchildren: Jayden Seeley, Presley Warren, and Jakobi McDonald of Davis, OK, and Kennedy and Addison Warren of Owasso, OK.
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