Rank: Private First Class
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 24-Jun-1946
Hometown: Hueytown, Alabama
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 24-Sep-1968
Start of tour: 6-Mar-1969
Incident date: 11-May-1969
Date of casualty: 13-May-1969
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Samuel Lee Patterson died from wounds received while gunner on a military vehicle on a combat operation when came under mortar attack by a hostile force. Individual was admitted to a military hospital, placed on the Serious Injury (SI) list, and later expired. / Gunner on Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) on combat operation when vehicle was hit by hostile mortar round. Individual was admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, on 11 May 1969 at 1500 hrs, placed on Serious Injured (SI) list on 11 May 1969 at 1520 hrs and later expired. Incident occurred on 11 May 1969 at 1200 hrs.
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 613 587
Place of interment: Brotherhood Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama, USA
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