Robert M Patterson
Robert was born on the 16th of April 1948, in Carpenter, North Carolina, but grew up outside of Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. After dropping out of high school in his senior year, he enlisted in the US Army, attending basic training at Fort Bragg and then jump school at Fort Benning. Robert deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in December of 1967, and it was his actions during a routine mission on the 6th of May 1968, that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The 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-weapons and rocket-propelled-grenade fire from two enemy bunkers, Sgt. Patterson and the two 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 one-man spider holes, Sgt. Patterson, with complete disregard for his safety and ignoring the warnings of his comrades that he was moving into a bunker complex, assaulted and destroyed the position. Although exposed to intensive small-arms 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 five enemy bunkers, killed eight enemy soldiers, and captured seven 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.
Robert states that he does not remember any of these actions, but the next morning he received the Silver Star. A little over a year later, he received the Medal of Honor from President Nixon on the 9th of October 1969, in a ceremony on the East Lawn of the White House. Robert recalls being upset that he was forced to not wear his jump boots for the ceremony, since the other three recipients were not airborne qualified and would not be wearing them.
He remained in the Army, going on to serve as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Bliss, Texas, and retired at the rank of Command Sergeant Major in 1991, after 25 years of service. Robert Martin Patterson is 74 years old at the time of this recording and currently resides in Pensacola, Florida.
