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.
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 Armybattalion 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]
^Griggs, Travis (October 17, 2010). . 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 linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Martin Patterson.
"Interview with Patterson". Pritzker Military Museum & Library. April 22, 2010. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
February 15, 2024
robert, martin, patterson, born, april, 1948, retired, united, states, army, soldier, recipient, united, states, military, highest, decoration, medal, honor, actions, vietnam, patterson, 2012nickname, bobborn, 1948, april, 1948, durham, north, carolinaallegian. 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 Robert Martin PattersonPatterson in 2012Nickname s BobBorn 1948 04 16 April 16 1948 age 75 Durham North CarolinaAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1966 1991RankCommand Sergeant MajorUnit17th Cavalry RegimentBattles warsVietnam WarGulf WarAwardsMedal of HonorLegion of MeritBronze Star MedalPurple Heart 3 Meritorious Service Medal 3 Army Achievement Medal Contents 1 Military career 2 Later life 3 Medal of Honor citation 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMilitary career edit nbsp Patterson in 1997Patterson 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 Thien 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 editPatterson resides in Pensacola Florida having moved there in 2010 3 Medal of Honor citation editPatterson 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 edit nbsp Biography portalList of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam WarReferences edit 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 edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Martin Patterson Interview with Patterson Pritzker Military Museum amp Library April 22 2010 Retrieved 2014 04 30 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Martin Patterson amp oldid 1176869366, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
