Pete Giroux was born on August 8, 1944, in Ithaca, New York. After earning his bachelor's degree in business at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, he entered Officer Training School on October 21, 1966, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas, on January 4, 1967. Lt Giroux next attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Alabama, from January 1967 to February 1968, followed by EC-121 Warning Star Combat Crew Training from March to July 1968. His first assignment was as an EC-121R pilot with the 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from August 1968 to May 1969, and he then attended B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training at Castle AFB, California, from May to September 1969. Capt Giroux served as a B-52D pilot with the 2nd Bomb Squadron at March AFB, California, from September 1969 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War while flying on temporary duty out of U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand, on December 22, 1972. During this time he deployed to Southeast Asia in March 1971, and from April to December 1972. After spending 53 days in captivity, Capt Giroux was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at March AFB, California, and then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his master's degree at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, from January 1974 to May 1975. Maj Giroux flew the T-39 Sabreliner and served as Chief of the Career Progression Section at the 3902nd Air Base Wing at Oft AFB, Nebraska, from May 1975 to July 1978, followed by B-52G/H Combat Crew Training at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, from July to December 1978. He served as a B-52 pilot with the 596th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB from December 1978 to August 1981, and then attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1981 to June 1982. His next assignment was as an instructor at Air Command and Staff College from June 1982 to March 1984, followed by service as Director of Personnel for the 42nd Combat Support Group at Loring AFB, Maine, from March 1984 to March 1987. Col Giroux served as Deputy Commander of the 97th Support Group at Eaker AFB, Arkansas, from March 1987 to November 1988, and then as Commander of the 97th Support Group from November 1988 to June 1990. His next assignment was as Vice Commander of the 633rd Air Base Wing at Anderson AFB, Guam, from June 1990 to February 1992, followed by service as Director of the Base Closure Office at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, from February 1992 to 1993. His final assignment was as Chief of Staff of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, Kansas, where he worked on the base realignment from Strategic Air Command to Air Combat Command from 1993 until his retirement from the Air Force on January 1, 1995. Pete Giroux Flew West on October 28, 2021, and was buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor Citation reads:

Captain Peter J. Giroux distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 22 December 1972. On that date, Captain Giroux participated in high priority bombing missions against vital military and logistical targets in heavily defended areas of North Vietnam. Despite the intensity of defensive reaction and the extreme hazard posed by numerous surface-to-air missiles and hostile interceptors, Captain Giroux displayed a willingness to place the mission above his personal safety in directing his aircraft to a successful release of his ordnance on the scheduled target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Giroux reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.