Ranger Peter Parker left a legacy to the Ranger community with several $100,000+ gifts to Ranger service organizations including GallantFew. Below is an article originally published in the 75th Ranger Regiment Association’s Patrolling magazine in June 2024 by Ranger Hall of Famer Rick Barela.
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Pete was born Stephen Parker, but he was nicknamed “Peter” Parker in the Rangers, and the name stuck; he finally caved and legally changed his name to match his Ranger-given Spiderman identity. He served in C Company 2nd Bn (Ranger) 75th Inf from February 1975 to February 1979.
After leaving the military, Pete went to college and studied computer programming and digital electronics. Pete was multifaceted, working in computer science and sales. He built his own alarm company known as “Excel Systems and Solutions,” which became highly successful in Southern California. He later became a business coach and IT consultant.
One of his enduring legacies was creating “The Lost Patrol,” which was an annual get-together of former Rangers, mostly 2nd Batt, but open to all Rangers. He was an active member of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association and volunteered his skills to publish the Patrolling Magazine. Sadly, that never came to fruition. Peter was a plank holder but arrived in the 2nd Battalion in 1975. Pete went to the battalion in February of 1975 and was assigned to C Co and was an assistant machine gunner. He received a slot at Ranger School in March of 1976 and returned to the company with the coveted Ranger Tab on his shoulder. He assumed his duties on a gun team and then became the machine gunner. One thing about Pete: he did love the M-60 machine gun. He once said, “Happiness is a 6 to 9 round burst”. Eventually, Pete was moved over to the C Co. arms room. This was the best-kept arms room in the battalion. He was especially focused on the crew-served weapons (M 60 machineguns, 60mm Mortars, and 90mm Recoilless Rifles) as he understood they provided heavy firepower for the unit. His expertise with all the weapons was extraordinary, and the other armorers in the battalion and even across the 9th Infantry Division would come to him for guidance and information.
Pete was always willing to help everyone, especially the Rangers in the battalion. I was able to contact Buck Royale, Rod Hafemeister, Rich Wills, Tom Smithlin, and Jose Torres, who served with Pete back in the day. They all stated the same thing. “Pete was one hell of a Ranger but was a comedian and loved to play pranks.”
They relayed a couple of stories about Pete that I found interesting: From Rich Wills, who was assigned to 3rd Platoon C Co, and they sent him down to the supply room to pick up a box of grid squares and prop wash for a jump that night. Pete and Rich cut up an old map into grid squares, put them in a box, and marked it grid squares. Rich took it back to the squad, and they all got a big laugh out of it. Rich informed me that he and Pete would meet, but sadly, Pete had passed away, and they never got to link up again.
I first met Pete in 1978 when I came in and was assigned to the C Company 2nd Bn (Ranger) 75th Inf Supply Sgt. This was actually before the formation of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Pete was the acting Supply Sgt and was trying to prepare for the Inspector General Inspection, and a change of command for C Co. The IG inspection was for the entire battalion and the 1st to ensure we complied with all regulations. A bunch of jumping through the hoops. Pete stated the supply room was a mess and really didn’t know where to start. Pete and I sat down and developed a plan to get us through the inspection and change of command. Pete did a lot of the heavy lifting as I went through the files and got all the paperwork updated. We got rid of quite a lot of junk that should have been turned in over the 3 years the battalion was active. In the end, we passed with flying colors. Pete was one of those true, hard-working Rangers who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and get down in the bowels to get things done. Pete left the military in Feb 79. The next time I ran into Pete was attending the 75th RRA reunion in Tacoma, Washington. It was like an old home week, and we talked about our time in 2nd Bn and what we had done since leaving the battalion. He was active in his endeavors, and we stayed in touch, but it was intermittent.
When I got the word that Pete had passed, it was like I was losing another brother. One thing that never changed with Pete was his love of the unit and his desire for the unit to stay head and shoulders above all other units in the Army in every possible aspect. He felt that Rangers were family and always strived to live by the Ranger Creed. Let us all take this time to say a small prayer to our departed Ranger Peter Parker. May the Big Ranger in the Sky welcome him home with these words.
“Well Done My Good and Faithful Ranger. Look At What You Have Created During Your Mortal Life and Be Proud. Join Your Fellow Rangers in Green Pastures and Drink from the Fountain of the Ranger Brotherhood.”
