6 May

SGT ROBERT M. PATTERSON,
Troop B, 2nd Sqdrn. 17th Cavalry
La Chu, Republic of Vietnam
6 May 1968.

While serving as a Sgt. Patterson (then Sp4.) was serving a fire team leader during an assault against a heavily fortified NVA position.

When the squad on point was pinned down by heavy interlocking automatic weapons, Sgt. Patterson and the 2 other members of his team ignored a hail of enemy fire,  attacked, and destroyed the bunkers.

When he saw that other members of his unit were pinned down by a third enemy bunker and one man spider holes.

Patterson ignored warning shouts from his comrades that he was approaching a bunker complex, He attacked and destroyed the bunker and adjacent spider holes.

Sgt. Patterson continued his assault on hidden enemy bunkers impeding the advance of his unit single-handedly destroyed 5 enemy bunkers, killed 8 enemy soldiers, and captured 7 heavy weapons.

Patterson remained in the Army, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major (E-9). After the Army, Patterson worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs for a dozen years. He live in quiet retirement today.

The last line of Sgt Patterson’s Medal of Honor citation reads:

“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.”