Category: November

Peter Semanoff had been very involved with his high school football team, the track team where he threw javelin and discus, and was part of the district chorus. He loved his church where he served as a deacon.  But his absolute love was with the military since both his grandfathers, his father and his siblings had all served their country. As a little boy, Pete had loved going to the Memorial Day services every year with his grandfather, where he stood tall, saluting the flag. When he was older, Pete did his Eagle Scout project about the 30 WW II veterans from his hometown, starting with his grandfather.

In 2002, Pete graduated from high school and with a scholarship, he continued his education at Lycoming College, in the ROTC program ( the hub school being Bucknell ).  At the age of 22, he became a Commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery stationed at Ft. Sill with the 101^st Airborne, like his grandfather.

In 2007, Pete was deployed to Iraq, where he remained for 14 months. He was a platoon leader and conducted hundreds of patrols.  He also met with some of Iraq’s key leaders. When returning back to the states, he was at Ft. Campbell . Now as a captain, he was assigned to 2-8 FA (field artillery). Later between 2008-2011, Pete, having become a Battery Commander, was assigned to Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks, AK and while there, he met his future wife.

Between 2011-2012, Pete was deployed to Afghanistan as (Captain) Battery Commander in charge of 4 platoons, approximately 270 soldiers.

During 2012-2014, Pete returned to Ft. Wainwright and at times he also traveled to Philadelphia as a recruiting Company Commander.

From 2014-2020, he was stationed at Ft. Hood as a Major with the 1^st Army as a trainer but moving to 1^st Calvary Division Operations Officer for 1-82 field artillery battalion, he was deployed  to Poland.

When he first returned home, Pete was assigned to Ft. Hood, TX and then to Ft. Sill, OK.  He became an instructor, a Brigadier Operations Officer of Fire Center of Excellence G5 ( long range planner ) and was Major promotable.

Pete resides in Lawton at Ft. Sill with his wife Tara and their 3 children.

A few of Pete’s numerous awards are:

Bronze Star   1 oak leaf cluster

Meritorious ribbon   3 oak leaf cluster

Parachute Badge

Air Assault Badge

Combat Action Badge

Basic Instructor Badge

Basic Recruiter badge

The American College Dictionary lists nine alternate definitions of the word “duty” covering a wide range of meanings. “Duty” for example is that which one is bound to do for exempt voting . It can also mean a levy or tax imposed on the import and export of goods. Let us look to Jesus and his definition or meaning of the word duty. Our Gospel lesson tells, the story of the rich young man who seeks Jesus’ approval in all that he does in trying to please God. When Jesus tells him one more thing he needs to do. “Go and sell what you have and give to the poor, then you will have treasure in heaven. After that come and follow me.” The rich young man went away sad.

“Come and follow me” is extended to us all. “Follow Me on the road  to happiness. It is your duty to follow the road to your own happiness. But first you must eliminate our self-centeredness. It is the mistaken notion that  we can substitute our own formula for God’s. It is the mistaken notion that our happiness is unrelated  to the happiness of others. This is what Jesus implored  the  young man to embrace. The real lesson therefore, is this: only by losing ourselves in loving service to others can we find the true happiness we seek.

In one of the  “Charlie Brown” cartoons. Charlie Brown holds up his hands before Lucy and says. “These are hands which may someday accomplish great things. These are hands which may someday do marvelous works! They may build mighty bridges, or heal the sick, or hit home-runs, or write soul-stirring novels! These are the hands which may change the course of destiny! To which Lucy replies, “Charlie Brown, you got jelly all over your hands.”

In the interest of our eternal happiness, we should not talk about our Christian duty with jelly on our hands. God’s formula for happiness is not meant to stick somewhere between us knowing it and doing it. If our neighbor is need of material support don’t let our sticky fingers keep us from helping him. If a sinner is need of forgiveness, don’t let our compassion keep sticking to our own self-righteousness. If someone needs relief from loneliness don’t let our understanding keep sticking to our unresponsiveness. God’s will is the happiness of all. Our happiness is doing God’s will

The rich young man in the Gospel story decided to stick to his own formula and Mark tells us, “He went away sad.” If in the moment of Grace, we see our duty as sticking to God’s formula, we will go away happy.