<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p><em>Peter William Travis</em>—beloved husband, father, son, and patriot—passed away unexpectedly June 19, 2021. Born November 21, 1969 in East Grand Rapids, MI and raised in Wyoming, MI, Peter was a stellar student who graduated with honors from Rogers High in 1988. His scholastic abilities and good citizenship earned him an appointment to the United States Military Academy.</p>
<p>A Midwestern gentleman, Peter impressed his fellow plebes in Beast Barracks with a consistently positive mindset and sense of humor in the face of adversity. Pete will be remembered by classmates at West Point for his smile and overall good humor despite the conditions. During Beast, this trait was a blessed gift to his platoon while marching out to Lake Frederick with his M14 or conducting drills wearing web gear and a steel pot; Peter always seemed to smile through it all. </p>
<p>During Reorganization Week, upperclassmen chose Peter for a high-risk spirit mission that involved infiltrating another regiment’s area. Although the mission was doomed when upperclassmen in the other regiment discovered the infiltrator, Peter survived the experience and was rewarded handsomely with ice cream. When winter came and the rigors of plebe year began to wear on his classmates, Peter’s calm presence helped them get through some of the most difficult experiences of their young lives. The photographs which fill his fellow G-2 Gator photo albums are all of him smiling—recently back from a Boodlers Run or preparing for a Spirit Mission. While no one “enjoys” the rigors of early cadet life, Peter knew how to make it easier on everyone. </p>
<p>Peter found a creative outlet in writing for the Pointer, where one of his colleagues recalled “his contribution to cadet morale was priceless.” His sense of humor was not limited to written form. Peter played the Commandant of Cadets in a 100th Night comedy show. Rather than improvising the Comm’s uniform, Peter knocked on the front door of the Comm’s residence and, when the Comm answered the door, requested to borrow his uniform. Peter’s love of adventure and travel was boundless. During graduation leave, he and his Company B-1 roommate Jamie Hayes caught a USAF “Space-Available” flight from Dover Air Force Base to Rota, Spain, commencing an epic backpacking jaunt through the Iberian Peninsula. Ever the literary aficionado, Peter reveled in retracing Hemingway’s steps from Andalucía to Madrid. Whether it was exploring ancient castles, watching bullfights, or debating with local campesinos on the finer points of making a good sangria, Peter attacked it all with gusto. Alas, duty called, and two bearded and sunburned lieutenants reluctantly arrived back in the States with only days to spare before reporting to officer basic courses.</p>
<p>He graduated with a degree in English literature and then completed the Armor Officer Basic Course in 1993. He served as platoon commander in the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Armored Division and 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Hood, TX, leading 15 enlisted troopers and their Abrams main battle tanks. Following his duty at Fort Hood, Peter graduated from the Engineer Officer Advanced Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and was then a squadron operations officer and headquarters troop commander in the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry at Schofield Barracks, HI. His service in the Army inspired a lifelong passion of service to country.</p>
<p>After resigning his commission, Peter pursued opportunities to support soldiers in defense of freedom. As a contractor, he undertook projects to develop, test and implement solutions to address soldier needs. He went on to become a civil servant under the Army, focusing on program and system improvements necessary to increase transparency across human capital systems. He led the Commander’s Risk Reduction Dashboard project and later became the product director for the Army Human Resources System. </p>
<p>In 2009, Peter met Alexandra (Ali) and began their love story as only Peter could tell it: “I met a princess on the street of kings. Over Sangria me she did ensnare, and though I could not know what time would bring, I longed to touch her waved, cascading hair…though Pat implored her she refused to sing, but she laid her golden curls across my arm, and I marveled at what this night did bring. A woman so lovely, witty, and warm...” Peter and Alexandra married in 2011, and they raised three boys: James, Luke and Peter. They traveled the world, took trips to the beaches and mountains, saw performances, and enjoyed simply being together. They danced in the evenings while making dinner and spent summer weekends boating, sea camping and grilling on the Potomac. Peter and Ali shared much happiness, worked together through challenges, and laughed every day. They loved deeply, and although their time was limited, they had a love that few will have the chance to experience within a lifetime.</p>
<p>Peter was an incredible father. He shared childhood stories and tales of West Point to teach life lessons in ways that made his sons laugh and remember. He taught his children to fish, swim and do backflips off the boat, organized water weekends for scouting, taught them to drive and cheered for his boys at sports. The most memorable of experiences was playing paintball, during which he relived his Army days, putting skills to use in the field, jumping, diving, crawling, sliding, always with a smile. Peter passed his good natured, fun loving, jovial traits on to his children with a balance of respect that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. </p>
<p>Peter is survived by his wife Alexandra, children James, Luke, and Peter, and his mother Charlene.</p>
</body>
</html>