VIETNAM - PATTERSON, GEORGE FRANCIS

Patterson, George Francis

VIETNAM - PATTERSON, GEORGE FRANCIS
PATTERSON, GEORGE FRANCIS

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

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 12W 072 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

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)