Louis A. Digiacomo
With the closing of VFMA, I thought about the year I spent there and the people I met during that time (1974-1975). I was 12 years old at the start of the school year and Chip (Mr. Peterson to me) was the Executive Officer of "H" Company, which was composed of the youngest cadets in the corps (7th and 8th grade). Chip was a senior in high school at the time I believe and I was in 7th grade, the youngest grade they accepted cadets. He knew my father was a funeral director and we had many discussions about the business. Chip was kind, very professional, and extremely bright, and the medals he wore reflected that: I think no-one in the corps of cadets had more medals than him. At the end of the academic year in 1975, both he and I (along with 4 others in their respective class) received the Major Gen. Anthony Wayne Medal (for being 1st in their class academically) by Lt. Gen. Willard Pearson. He was certainly one of the cadets who brought honor to the Academy and I have no doubt he also honored our profession. God rest his soul. God bless his family. Lou DiGiacomo


