Robert Martin Patterson

Last updated
Robert Martin Patterson
Robert Patterson 2012.JPG
Patterson in 2012
Nickname(s)Bob
Born (1948-04-16) April 16, 1948 (age 76)
Durham, North Carolina
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1966–1991
Rank Command Sergeant Major
Unit 17th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Gulf War
Awards Medal of Honor
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart (3)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Army Achievement Medal

Robert Martin Patterson (born April 16, 1948) is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Contents

Military career

Patterson in 1997 Robert M Patterson 1997.jpg
Patterson in 1997

Patterson grew up in a family of tobacco farmers in Fayetteville, North Carolina. [1] Patterson joined the United States Army from Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1966, and by May 6, 1968, was serving as a specialist four in Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. During a firefight on that day, near La Chu, Thừa Thiên Province, South Vietnam, during the May Offensive, Patterson single-handedly destroyed a series of enemy bunkers. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to sergeant. [2]

In the mid-1970s, Patterson, by then a staff sergeant, served as a Basic Training drill sergeant at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Patterson reached the army's highest enlisted rank, Command Sergeant Major, and served in the Gulf War before retiring in 1991.

Later life

Patterson resides in Pensacola, Florida, having moved there in 2010. [3]

In October 2024, Patterson joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsing Donald Trump for president. [4]

Medal of Honor citation

Patterson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Patterson (then Sp4c.) distinguished himself while serving as a fire team leader of the 3d Platoon, Troop B, during an assault against a North Vietnamese Army battalion which was entrenched in a heavily fortified position. When the leading squad of the 3d Platoon was pinned down by heavy interlocking automatic weapon and rocket propelled grenade fire from 2 enemy bunkers, Sgt. Patterson and the 2 other members of his assault team moved forward under a hail of enemy fire to destroy the bunkers with grenade and machine gun fire. Observing that his comrades were being fired on from a third enemy bunker covered by enemy gunners in 1-man spider holes, Sgt. Patterson, with complete disregard for his safety and ignoring the warning of his comrades that he was moving into a bunker complex, assaulted and destroyed the position. Although exposed to intensive small arm and grenade fire from the bunkers and their mutually supporting emplacements. Sgt. Patterson continued his assault upon the bunkers which were impeding the advance of his unit. Sgt. Patterson singlehandedly destroyed by rifle and grenade fire 5 enemy bunkers, killed 8 enemy soldiers and captured 7 weapons. His dauntless courage and heroism inspired his platoon to resume the attack and to penetrate the enemy defensive position. Sgt. Patterson's action at the risk of his life has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Ray Roberts</span>

Gordon Ray Roberts is a retired United States Army officer and a Medal of Honor recipient for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" on 11 July 1969 while an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez</span> US Marine Corps sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient (1946–1968)

Alfredo Cantu "Freddy" Gonzalez was a United States Marine Corps Sergeant who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for service in the Battle of Huế during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Hooper (Medal of Honor)</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1938–1979)

Joe Ronnie Hooper was an American who served in both the United States Navy and United States Army where he finished his career there as a captain. He earned the Medal of Honor while serving as an army sergeant on February 21, 1968, during the Vietnam War. He was one of the most decorated U.S. soldiers of the war and was wounded in action eight times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Leonard</span>

Matthew Leonard was a United States Army sergeant who posthumously received America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maximo Yabes</span>

Maximo Yabes born in Lodi, California, was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor — the United States' highest military decoration — for his actions near Phu Hoa Dong in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Yabes distinguished himself when he used his body as a shield to protect others in a bunker, moved two wounded men to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment and destroyed an enemy machine gun position before being mortally wounded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross</span>

Puerto Ricans have served as members of the United States Armed Forces and have fought in every major conflict in which the United States has been involved from World War I onward. Many Puerto Ricans, including those of Puerto Rican descent, have distinguished themselves during combat as members of the five branches of the U.S. Military, the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John F. Baker Jr.</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

John Franklin Baker Jr. was a United States Army Master Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond R. Wright</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Raymond Richard Wright was a United States Army soldier from New York and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth E. Stumpf</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1944–2022)

Kenneth Edward Stumpf was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Leslie Poxon</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Robert Leslie Poxon was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William D. Port</span>

William David Port was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray McKibben</span>

Ray McKibben was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finnis D. McCleery</span>

Finnis Dawson McCleery was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Ronald Lambers</span>

Paul Ronald Lambers was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard B. Keller</span>

Leonard Bert Keller was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delbert O. Jennings</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Delbert Owen Jennings was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael John Fitzmaurice</span> US Army Specialist 4, Medal of Honor & Purple Heart (1971)

Michael John Fitzmaurice is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian L. Buker</span>

Brian Leroy Buker was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Belcher</span>

Ted Belcher was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was also a recipient of a Purple Heart, a National Defense Medal, and both the Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign Medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinton Romesha</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Clinton LaVor Romesha is a retired United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009 during the War in Afghanistan.

References

  1. ↑ Weiss, Kevin. (November 6, 2019). Medal of Honor recipient inspires local students. lakerlutz.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Medal of Honor Recipients – Vietnam (M–Z)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  3. ↑ Griggs, Travis (October 17, 2010). "Wannabe warriors an 'insult' to their bravery". Pensacola News Journal . Pensacola, Florida. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010.
  4. ↑ Singman, Brooke (12 October 2024). "'We believe in Donald Trump': More than a dozen Medal of Honor recipients endorse former president". Fox News . Retrieved October 12, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.