Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11E – Armor Crewman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 26-Dec-1948
Hometown: Pacifica, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-May-1968
Start of tour: 9-Jan-1970
Incident date: 1-Apr-1970
Date of casualty: 1-Apr-1970
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
George Francis Patterson was killed while at an artillery firing position when the area came under attack by a hostile force. / On reconnaissance patrol. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 037 792
Place of interment: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR GEORGE FRANCIS PATTERSON
1 APRIL 1970
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Patterson distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 1 April 1970 while serving as a gunner with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Specialist Patterson’s unit was conducting a reconnaissance mission in a triple column through the dense jungle. The left flank suddenly began receiving intense rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire from an estimated North Vietnamese Army company. Specialist Patterson placed an immense barrage of machinegun fire upon the enemy bunkers. When his tank commander was injured, he exposed himself to the deadly fire to assure his evacuation. He then assumed control of the main gun and commenced with highly accurate bursts of fire as well as directing the movements of his tank toward the bunkers. As the assault continued heavy enemy fire fatally wounded him. Specialist Patterson’s action led to the capturing of enemy weapons, prisoners of war and inflicted numerous casualties upon the enemy. Specialist Four Patterson’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1773 (8 May 1970)