By: Nicole Higginbotham
Peter Umatum, like other Americans, sought out the American dream. However, in an effort to make his wish a reality, Umatum joined the army voluntarily upon turning 20. He knew that he had no choice in his job assignment, so he took on this obligation courageously. Umatum enlisted in 1942, during World War II. He was stationed in Belgium and worked as an automotive technician. "He worked on tanks," said Umatum's wife, Sylvia. Umatum's platoon was moved around as the area of combat advanced. "We were right close to the backline," said Umatum. "We were working on tanks most of the time. We would go out in the field and recover them, fix them up, and put them back out on the line." Being near the battle zone had consequences, and at one point, Umatum even got shot in the leg. However, this was a minor set-back and did not prevent Umatum from fulfilling his duties. "I went to the hospital, and then, I went back into the line," Umatum said. While Umatum was enlisted, he married Sylvia, and they had their first child. In 1945, Umatum, a tech sergeant, was discharged and moved to Bellevue. Later on, the Umatums moved to Omaha to raise their six children. "When we moved from Bellevue to Omaha, we bought our own home," said Sylvia. Peter got a job as a milkman, and after a while, he opened his own business, hauling refineries and spraying the roads. Umatum said he had a good experience in the army and met several interesting people. He was able to retire on his profits and moved into the Bellevue Veteran's Home, 12505 South 40th Street, in May 2009. Umatum and his wife now pass their time socializing with their neighbors and enjoying their time together. For more information on Peter Umatum, contact the Bellevue Veteran's Home at (402) 595-2180.
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