Veterans’ stories: Marshall “Pete” Ashworth

Posted November 12, 2009 at 1:21 pm and filed under Community.

Garner resident Marshall “Pete” Ashworth was drafted into the U.S. Army Aug. 14, 1953.

Master Sgt. Pete Ashworth, Garner resident, served in the U.S. Army.

Master Sgt. Pete Ashworth, Garner resident, served in the U.S. Army.

After infantry and heavy truck driver training at Fort Jackson, S.C., Pete volunteered for airborne jump school training at Fort Benning, Ga. After completing jump school, Pete was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg in Feb. 1954.

In 1957 Pete was assigned to Company C, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in South Korea, which led to future assignments there in 1964 and 1973. During the 1964-1965 South Korea tour of duty, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Korean Procurement Agency as a contracting administrator in Pusan, South Korea, administering contracts for war materials for the South Vietnam Defense Forces.

After returning from South Korea in 1965, Pete was assigned again to the Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, but a jump injury disqualified him from further airborne jump activities.

Pete’s next overseas assignment was to Camp Zama Japan where he managed a Japanese work force in the operation of a military clothing store that provided clothing items to Korea, Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Pete again returned to Fort Bragg until he was reassigned to Germany as a contracting sergeant with the U.S. Army European Petroleum Distribution Command that was headquartered in the Neubrucke, Germany. After several months in Germany, he volunteered for duty in South Vietnam where he served as a quality assurance operations sergeant with the U.S. Army Long Binh Depot near Saigon.

After departing Vietnam, Pete was assigned to Continental Army Command at Fort Monroe, Va., as an operations sergeant with force development duties, which authorized personnel strength and material resources for all U.S. Army Subordinate Commands in the U.S.

Pete returned for his third tour of duty to South Korea in 1973. After serving several months there, he decided he decided to retire in March 1974.

After retirement, Pete attended Fayetteville Technical Institute where he earned an associate’s degree in business administration. He then enrolled full time in Fayetteville Methodist College where he graduated with a BAS in business administration Dec. 21, 1979.

While serving more than 20 years in the Army, Pete completed many service schools in addition to the completion of a high school GED while in South Korea between 1957 and 1958 and jump school, including:

  • Air transportation school
  • Non-commissioned officer logistics school
  • Basic and advanced contracting
  • Contract automated systems management courses
  • European basic and advanced procurement courses
  • Quality assurance school
  • Other military combat training

After retiring from the army, Pete found work as a household goods inspector and contracting officer at Fort Bragg, a contract systems manager at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, contract purchasing agent and contract administrator of Pope Air Force Base and buyer at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. He has also held positions as director of physical plant at Atlantic Christian College.

During his military career, Pete received numerous awards, including:

  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Good Conduct Medal and Clasp Bronze 5 Loops
  • National Defense Service Medal and Bronze Star Attachment
  • Armed Forces Expedition Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal and Bronze Star Attachment
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
  • Expert Badge and Rifle Bar
  • Sharpshooter Badge and Carbine Bar
  • Korea Defense Service Medal
  • Parachutist Badge

Community submission by Eva M. Walters

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