Robert Andrew Van Patten

The database page for Robert Andrew Van Patten

30 Mar 2008 Robert Andrew van Patten volunteered for duty and completed training at Fort Sill OCS 1966 Class 22-66. He served in the rank of 1st Lt. for two tours of duty. While serving as a Forward Observer with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry he was, according to the VVMF, killed while trying to save a fellow soldier who was taken down by enemy fire. For this action he was awarded the Silver Star. As a ten-year-old girl, I received the phone call for my dad from officers in Vietnam, telling him his brother had been killed. At the time, it was my understanding he had been killed by throwing himself on a grenade to save nearby troops. I'll try to get some clarifiction. As a child I enjoyed time with my Uncle Bobby, and remember him playing tag with me and my siblings and also playing the accordian. From his niece, Angela Van Patten angelavanpatten@comcast.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 25 Nov 1967 C Company, 2/22nd Infantry, conducted an operation in the "Mushroom Bend" of the Saigon River, about 16 kilometers due west of Ben Cat. Three infantrymen and the Company's artillery Forward Observer were killed in the action: C Co, 2nd Bn, 22nd Infantry 2LT Robert L. Mlynarski, New Britain, CT CPL John A. Gibson, Grandin, MO PFC Dennis R. Estes, Garden Grove, CA B Btry, 2nd Bn, 77th Artillery 1LT Robert A. Van Patten, San Carlos, CA (Silver Star)

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 30 Mar 2008
Last updated 08/10/2009