Rank: Captain
Awards:
- Four Distinguished Flying Crosses
- Air Medal with V for Valor
- Seven additional Air Medals
- Purple Heart
McQuaid Activities:
- Student Council
- Senior Class Secretary
- Homeroom Officer
- Gold Medal Winner
- Silver Medal Winner
- Lance Editor in Chief
- Varsity Club
- Cheerleader
- Football
- Track
- Wrestling
Parish: St. John Evangelist
A Tribute from His Wife:
Peter Platt, tribute for McQuaid Jesuit High School, 2026. Peter was a proud graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School, where the values of faith, learning, empathy, and leadership helped shape the man he would become. From McQuaid, he went on to attend the United States Air Force Academy, committing himself to service, discipline, and excellence.
As an air force pilot, Peter served courageously, including a year in Vietnam, where his bravery in the danger he faced was recognized with numerous medals. He was a man of integrity — focused and disciplined, yet also fun and passionate about life. He was a man of faith which shaped his entire life.
We met while he was in pilot training (oh, the stories I could tell), and I quickly realized that this good looking, fun loving guy was also an incredible man!! We lived our entire marriage at USAF bases in Germany, where his love, enthusiasm, strong character, and steady support truly made my life more full, and his playful, fun spirit made my life more fun! I love him deeply and still miss him dearly.
In 1975, Peter lost his life in a plane crash in Germany while serving our country, but his legacy continues in the values he exemplified and in the lives he touched.
He remains a true example of a McQuaid man — one who lived and led with integrity, faith and empathy, who served with courage, and who lived with purpose.
Audrey Platt Jackson
01/07/26
Thoughts Craig Collins, Peter’s best friend and roommate from the Air Force Academy
So here are some thoughts on how I remember Peter:
– Committed student-athlete focused on excellence.
– Trustworthy and loyal teammate and friend.
– Fierce competitor on and off the field.
– Blessed with moral strength and character.
– Devoted and loving husband.
– Committed to his role as an Air Force officer and gentleman.
– Charismatic, gregarious and fun-loving.
– Decorated warrior with the heart of a lion.
– Gone but not forgotten.
A Tribute from His Sister:
I was asked to “paint a picture” of my brother for this McQuaid memorial. How do I paint a picture of the finest man I have ever known?
Peter was just 2 years older than me and, of course, we fought and teased each other unmercifully when we were little. He nicknamed me “Tiny” after the ballet dancing hippopotamus in “Fantasia,” and it became a term of endearment forever.
Peter was always WAY smarter than me. He skipped second grade and was the youngest person in his class at both McQuaid and The Air Force Academy. He was like our Dad- brilliant in Math and Science. When he would tutor me in Algebra, he’d shake his head and say, “How can you be so STUPID, Tiny?”
Going to McQuaid truly shaped Peter’s life. He excelled in academics, he loved being on the football team (even the year he broke his leg), and he formed close friendships that lasted his short lifetime. Our house was where all the Jesuits and Peter’s friends would gather throughout his 4 years at McQuaid. Even after Peter passed, my parents and I remained very close to Peter’s friends from McQuaid, spending every Christmas with Chick Plummer and his family, and enjoying visits from Mike Meteyer.
Peter left for boot camp summer at The Air Force Academy the day after he graduated from McQuaid. He left Rochester weighing 185 pounds and, when my Mom and Dad and I went to parents’ weekend 2 months later, he was down to142 pounds of lean, mean cadet machine! While at the Academy, Peter was ranked highly enough among his cadet class that he was named Squadron Commander- a rank only a small number of the best cadets ever achieved.
The 4 years at McQuaid and the Academy made Peter into a very strong, disciplined man, but also one who loved to party. He also had a very soft, tender side, that I loved dearly.
After graduation, Peter, Coll and Brian all went to Columbus, Mississippi for pilot training. Peter’s nickname at Pilot Training was “Hostile Man,” because, according to Brian, he was so competitive against the rest of his classmates. It was in Columbus that Peter met the love of his life, Audrey Andrews. Peter and Audrey got engaged, much to the supreme delight of both families! Audrey was, and still is to this day, the sister I never had.
Then off to Vietnam went Peter. It was a very scary year. Peter was a Forward Air Controller (Platt the FAC) – the most dangerous fighter pilot job in Vietnam. He was shot down, spent the night in the jungle, and was rescued by a helicopter. Peter was awarded 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Air Medals of Valor for bravery (each representing 15-20 dangerous combat missions), and The Purple Heart. The relief and gratitude we all felt when Peter came home safely is indescribable.
Audrey and Peter got married in March of 1972. I was her Maid of Honor. They got orders to go to Germany and spent 3 exciting years experiencing Europe. When I married Peter’s roommate, Brian, I was broken hearted the Peter wouldn’t be able to come to the wedding from Germany. It surprised and thrilled everyone when Peter and Audrey showed up 2 days before the wedding! Little did I know that would be the last time I ever saw him alive.
Peter died in a plane crash serving the country he loved so dearly on April 28, 1975, just 26 days after his 27th birthday. Audrey, my Mom and Dad and me, our whole family, and all of Peter’s friends were totally destroyed by the loss of this incredible man, who had such a bright, amazing future ahead of him. Peter’s best friend from McQuaid, Chick Plummer, recently told me that he’s sure his life would have been so much better with Peter still in this world. I know we all feel that way. I do find comfort in knowing that he died doing what he loved- flying a jet and serving his country.
Another one of Peter’s classmates and football team members, Mike Meteyer, told me that “Peter was the very best of all of us.” High praise from a leader of an outstanding group of McQuaid Knights.
Peter would be so humbled and grateful for this honor that McQuaid is bestowing on him. On behalf of Peter, Audrey, our family, Chick, Col, Brian, Mike and all of Peter’s friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this well-deserved tribute.
