William F. "Bill" Peak, Cox., 4th Division, who boarded the SLC on December 23, 1942, passed away in Girard, Kansas, on August 28, 2002, at age 80.

Owing to the assistance of SLC historian Sandy Eskew, Bill's son, Ken, of Sparks, Nevada, recently connected and chatted with one of Bill's shipmates and supervisors, Eugene "Gene" Hudson of Texas, who remembers Bill well and even went on shore liberty with him on several occasions.

Ken had a lengthy, cordial, and highly informative conversation with Gene about Bill's military service, which will be combined with other records and materials into a scrapbook for Bill's family. Gene recalls Bill as very good-looking, always wearing a curl down on his forehead - his trademark.

Later in life, Bill would work primarily in the fields of soil conservation and excavation, and reclaiming of land after coal mine digging, while also being an avid rancher, hunter, and horseman.

For his latter efforts, the arena of the county fairground in Girard is named in his honor. Bill and his wife, Marjorie Jo, who survives, raised nine children.

Info. from son, Ken Peak. If you wish to contact Ken, write to Sandy Eskew for his address.