Friend, family remember Pete Lambert, who survived D-Day and flew 35 bombing missions in Europe
Veterans Day has taken on a different meaning this year for family and friends of Sterling "Pete" Lambert.
Lambert, who lived in Redding, was part of the Allied invasion of Europe on D-Day in World War II. He died Monday at the age of 102.
Terrie Reed of Redding, Lambert's granddaughter, said Veterans Day will mean something different for her this year because of her grandfather's recent death.
"There is a lot more emotion with it, if that makes sense, because I know that he is now gone. So there's that finality too, and then him passing so close to the holiday," she said.
With his death goes the memory of the service and sacrifice that Lambert and other members of his generation gave to their country during the war, said Carl Wassenaar, a lay person at Cottonwood Community Church, which Lambert attended.
"He's a special man and it's kind of ironic that he died this way. I'm tearing up now that he died this close to Veterans Day, because it is so poignant and brings home to my mind, and I'm sure many others particularly of my generation," Wassenaar said.
There are not many left who served in the military during World War II, according to the National World War II Museum.
Citing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, the museum said on its website that 167,284 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are alive in 2022.
Lambert was a 23-year-old pilot who flew over the French coast the day of the invasion, he told the Record Searchlight in 2020, when he turned 100 years old.
More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded during the amphibious assault, but Lambert would go on to survive 35 bombing missions over Europe.
"Today we take for granted the sacrifices that were made by those people, if you looked up D-Day, thousands and thousands of soldiers died that day," Wassenaar said. "They willingly ran into enemy fire as they were getting off their landing boats. And they died right there for our country. And I think that's lost on today's society and lost on the younger people. They don't understand the incredible courage and intensity of love for their country."
Lambert credited his faith for getting him safely through the war. He and his crew mates prayed before every mission.
He received several medals for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, two Bronze Stars and a presidential citation, he said.
"He was a World War II hero and worked with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, worked with McColl's Dairy, he worked with the Veterans Administration and he retired at age 80. How many people retire at age 80?" Wassenaar said.
Lambert's granddaughter, Kathy Miller of Redding, said that much of her grandfather's medals, awards and other World War II memorabilia were lost in a fire at his Cottonwood home several years ago.
"So that's hard, not being able to go through all his war belongings and seeing everything," Miller said.
Others around the country and Shasta County are also remembering veterans this year. To honor Veterans Day, the Sundial Bridge in Redding has been lit up in green every night Monday through Thursday of this week.
The Shasta County Administration building has been lit up with green outdoor lights since Monday and will remain illuminated in green through Sunday, according to the county Veteran's Service Office.
Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlight’s resources and environment reporter. He is part of a team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding resident survived D-Day, flew 35 WWII bombing missions
