Robert Martin Patterson
Robert Martin Patterson | |
|---|---|
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.
Military career
Patterson grew up in a family of tobacco farmers in
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
, 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]
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
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
References
- ^ Weiss, Kevin. (November 6, 2019). Medal of Honor recipient inspires local students. lakerlutz.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ 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.
- "List of Living Recipients M-R". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Martin Patterson.
- "Interview with Patterson". Pritzker Military Museum & Library. April 22, 2010. Retrieved 2014-04-30.