FARMINGTON — Peter Tracy says his learning really started after he graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1973. He wanted a break from school, his family didn’t have a lot of money, he didn’t want to get in a rut, and he wanted to get away from Farmington. 

Tracy had 2 uncles in the Navy and another in the Air Force. He chose the Navy and has been all around the world. “The Navy was great for me,” he said. 

Tracy noted that his experience in the Navy was much different than the white community he was used to in Farmington in the 70s.

While trained as a jet mechanic, Tracy never actually worked on one. Instead, he spent his time on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, the first nuclear-powered war ship. The ship had a 6,000-man crew, a 4.5-acre flight deck, and was 14 stories tall.

Tracy put bombs on board aircraft taking off from the USS Nimitz, a dangerous duty, while the ship was stationed in the Mediterranean. Tracy is a plank holder of that ship since he was a crew member when the USS Nimitz was first commissioned.

After four years of service, Tracy attained the rank of E5 or 2nd Class Petty Officer. “I was damn close to staying in, but I was homesick and wanted to come home,” he said.

Tracy wanted to go to college and become a forester. He used the Vietnam GI Bill to attend the University of Maine where he obtained an Associate Degree and then a Bachelor Degree in Forest Management. Tracy went that route “In case I ran out of money and interest,” he said.

After graduating in 1983, Tracy hung up his shingle as a consulting forester. He said he was a trailblazer as he was the only one in this area at the time. Thirty-one years later, he manages 22,000 acres for 500 clients.

Tracy missed the camaraderie of the Navy however. He met the commanding officer of the Maine Army National Guard Mountain Infantry Unit in Rumford. Tracy signed up and attended Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Tracy was with the Maine Army National Guard for 20 years. He is also an original plank holder for the Mountain Infantry since he was co-commander of the unit as a captain. 

During that time, Tracy also instructed the forest management and wood harvesting class at SAD#9’s Foster Technology Center. Based on his personal experiences, observations, and “lessons learned”, Tracy developed a 4-page letter of guidance encouraging students to consider time in the military. 

There are connections between Tracy’s forestry and National Guard duties. Tracy said, “Road building techniques learned in the guard I apply in my forestry work.” 

In 2003, Tracy knew that if he stayed in the Guard he would be sent to Afghanistan or Iraq. He had three children at home and didn’t want to go. He retired as a Major. “I went from swabbing decks and cleaning toilets to commanding a unit,” he said.  

Tracy has been a member of American Legion for 27 years, but didn’t get involved until about three years ago. He is currently publicity chairman and organizes the annual decorating of veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. In June, Tracy will become adjutant for Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post #28 in Farmington.

Tracy was a Farmington selectman from 1988 to 1993 and served as chairman for a year. He is currently the chair of the town’s Conservation Commission and has been a member since the early 80s.

Active in the forestry industry, Tracy helped put together the state’s Certified Logging Professional (CLP) Program in 1991 and has served on the CLP state board. A member of the Maine Maple Producers Association, he was involved with the establishment of Maine Maple Sunday. Tracy is also an inspector for the tree farm program and operates his own certified tree farm. He was county chair for the Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM) in the late 80s.

Tracy’s three children are all in college now, but he coached many sports teams while they were younger. He has been involved in many other community service projects as well. Tracy spoke of the time he was a teenager and a heavy rain created gullies that threatened to wash out the side of the road. He and his dad, Albion, fixed the road themselves.

“Since then, I ‘ve always realized it’s my town and I need to do what I can to help,” Tracy said.

Tracy earned a lot of citations while serving in the Navy and the Maine Army National Guard. “I’ve taken a lot more from the military than I put into it,” he said.