
Remembering A Hero
Air Force Col. Peter J. Stewart, missing from the Vietnam War, has now been accounted for. On March 15, 1966, Stewart, a member of Headquarters, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, was the pilot of a two-seater F-4C aircraft, the second in a flight of two on an armed reconnaissance mission over northern Vietnam. The lead aircraft spotted two vehicles as the flight approached the target area and Stewart responded he was going to strafe the trucks. The lead aircraft, while maneuvering to engage the targets, lost sight of Stewart’s aircraft, but saw a bright orange explosion over the trucks. The flight lead immediately attempted to contact Stewart’s aircraft without result. No parachutes or emergency signals were seen, and all subsequent attempts to contact Stewart and his aircraft commander were unsuccessful. An organized search was not possible due to hostilities in the area. Stewart was subsequently declared missing in action. His status was later amended to deceased until June 2017, when his remains were found in Vietnam and identified as the aircraft commander, Col. Martin R. Scott. His funeral and military honors were held at the St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Winter Haven Monday morning. Stewart’s widow, Marnie, and children were there for the funeral. Air Force jets performed a missing man flyover at the conclusion of the ceremonies to commemorate Stewart's decades of MIA status. A motorcycle group called Patriot Guard Riders was there to provide extra security.