Our weekly series, Remembering our Veterans continues with the story of Peter Correa.

Currently an educator at Mercyhurst University, Correa was born in Rio de Janeiro, he immigrated to the United States as a child and finished high school in Fort Myers, Florida.

After graduation, it was off to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. The start of an incredible journey across the globe. 

"I think it's an issue of duty honor country," said Correa.

Peter Correa certainly made a commitment, his military career started in 1968 and he remained active until 1996 from West Point Cadet to spending four years in Germany to becoming an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer, defending the Panama Canal. 

"No one wants peace more than a soldier," said Correa. "We are there to preserve and sustain." 

After spending 24 years in the U.S. Army, his career ended with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel but he has never stopped thinking about or caring for veterans and their overall health.

"What we have to do is bring these people back and embrace them into the society that they left, and it will be a lot of people because it will be a lot of issues," said Correa. "And having been a soldier there is nothing like combat in a built up area." 

Correa's Mercyhurst University office is decorated with Pittsburgh Pirates memorabilia, in particular, the late great Roberto Clemente. As a youngster living in the Fort Myers area during the 50's his father struck up a friendship with Clemente and it wasn't unusual to see number 21 at the Correa dinner table.

"Roberto came into the Pirates organization and sometimes couldn't eat at the restaurants," said Correa. "He really was a true hero." 

Some of Correa's favorite memories, are sharing stories about Roberto, with Clemente's wife Vera.

Peter Correa has been a faculty member at Mercyhurst University since 2019.

Colonel thank you for your service and sharing some incredible stories about my favorite Pirate, Roberto Clemente.