Post by nancs on Feb 28, 2007 20:26:21 GMT -5
As per David's suggestion, I did start a thread for Ray W. 'Pat' Patterson, USMC.
I can site no particular website, nor documented military history, but would like to 'honor, if you will,' a very special USMC person in my life-------Ray W. 'Pat' Patterson. I think I have referenced him and his family elsewhere on the boards, but this is a different way of honoring him and his service to our country by placing my memories in a more 'official spot.'
Pat grew up in Columbus, a 1934 CHS graduate. As I knew the story, Pat had a lover's spat with his high school sweetheart, Ola 'Dee' Ping, class of 1934, as well, and joined the Marine Corps as a very young man. Both are pictured on the same page in the link below.
www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/yearbooks/1934/26.htm
As WW II came about, Pat was deployed to Japan. While there he was captured and spent a great deal of time as a POW. As I was a teenager, out here, when Pat was stationed at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, many were the dining room discussions centering around these POW times. Pat was on several of the death marches during his POW experiences. As a prisoner, he had a 'job' to move the 'higher power Japanese people's' luggage and baggage from place to place. According to his story, at one point he 'lifted, as in stole' a man's ring out of some of this baggage, and then it became a mental preservation game with him, to try and keep the ring hidden during the many inspections by the Japanese guards. He did manage to get home with this ring intact upon his release. Much later, after his passing, his wife had the ring 'restored' and sent it to their daughter as a momento. ONLY to have the box arrive to her, with NO ring within. Just an odd twist to the story.
Upon Pat's release as a POW, and his return home, with the time spent already in the USMC, he made a career out of it. And yes, he did indeed marry his high school sweetheart. I believe that Pat retired as a captain and is buried at a cemetery in Westminister, CA.
Growing up as a teenager, spending much time in Dee and Pat's home, I do feel that I learned many life lessons under Pat's guidance, and I realize now that some of the things that are most important to me come via his outlook on life and his military background. He was a STRICT TASKMASTER. You work, and then you play. If I wanted him to go out riding the horses with me, as they lived in a rather rural area of Orange County, CA back in 50s, man, you busted your behind doing the chores before you ever put a saddle on the horse and took off on the trails.
When it came to food--------look out and beware. During his POW days, many was the time that he went hungry, with very sparse rations. The rule of his house-----whatever you took on your plate you licked the platter clean. And it was Dee's responsibility to make sure that the meal was ample, so that seconds could be the order of the day. Food was always abundant, with the best part of a weekend spent there------a huge bowl of shrimp in the refrigerator, always ready for a snack. Their freezer was always stocked to the max. Never a chance of running out of food.
Pat always said there were three things that he would never be without again-------food, cigarettes that could be traded for other items, and for the life of me I cannot recall the third thing. In thinking of this third item, I know it was not money, but something of 'value for trading purposes,' and perhaps an item as simple as matches. I often think about the impact that Pat's POW days made in his life, and the lives of many others, mine included.
Pat was quite a swimmer during his CHS days, and the one that taught me how to dive!!!! Oh, the times I was called a 'jarhead' because I didn't keep my legs together upon diving in the pool. ;D
I feel that I was richly blessed by knowing this career military man. His 'lessons about life' have served me well. I am proud to have known Ray W. 'Pat' Patterson, USMC, as he was quite a guy.
Just my tribute to one who served.
Nanc
I can site no particular website, nor documented military history, but would like to 'honor, if you will,' a very special USMC person in my life-------Ray W. 'Pat' Patterson. I think I have referenced him and his family elsewhere on the boards, but this is a different way of honoring him and his service to our country by placing my memories in a more 'official spot.'
Pat grew up in Columbus, a 1934 CHS graduate. As I knew the story, Pat had a lover's spat with his high school sweetheart, Ola 'Dee' Ping, class of 1934, as well, and joined the Marine Corps as a very young man. Both are pictured on the same page in the link below.
www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/yearbooks/1934/26.htm
As WW II came about, Pat was deployed to Japan. While there he was captured and spent a great deal of time as a POW. As I was a teenager, out here, when Pat was stationed at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, many were the dining room discussions centering around these POW times. Pat was on several of the death marches during his POW experiences. As a prisoner, he had a 'job' to move the 'higher power Japanese people's' luggage and baggage from place to place. According to his story, at one point he 'lifted, as in stole' a man's ring out of some of this baggage, and then it became a mental preservation game with him, to try and keep the ring hidden during the many inspections by the Japanese guards. He did manage to get home with this ring intact upon his release. Much later, after his passing, his wife had the ring 'restored' and sent it to their daughter as a momento. ONLY to have the box arrive to her, with NO ring within. Just an odd twist to the story.
Upon Pat's release as a POW, and his return home, with the time spent already in the USMC, he made a career out of it. And yes, he did indeed marry his high school sweetheart. I believe that Pat retired as a captain and is buried at a cemetery in Westminister, CA.
Growing up as a teenager, spending much time in Dee and Pat's home, I do feel that I learned many life lessons under Pat's guidance, and I realize now that some of the things that are most important to me come via his outlook on life and his military background. He was a STRICT TASKMASTER. You work, and then you play. If I wanted him to go out riding the horses with me, as they lived in a rather rural area of Orange County, CA back in 50s, man, you busted your behind doing the chores before you ever put a saddle on the horse and took off on the trails.
When it came to food--------look out and beware. During his POW days, many was the time that he went hungry, with very sparse rations. The rule of his house-----whatever you took on your plate you licked the platter clean. And it was Dee's responsibility to make sure that the meal was ample, so that seconds could be the order of the day. Food was always abundant, with the best part of a weekend spent there------a huge bowl of shrimp in the refrigerator, always ready for a snack. Their freezer was always stocked to the max. Never a chance of running out of food.
Pat always said there were three things that he would never be without again-------food, cigarettes that could be traded for other items, and for the life of me I cannot recall the third thing. In thinking of this third item, I know it was not money, but something of 'value for trading purposes,' and perhaps an item as simple as matches. I often think about the impact that Pat's POW days made in his life, and the lives of many others, mine included.
Pat was quite a swimmer during his CHS days, and the one that taught me how to dive!!!! Oh, the times I was called a 'jarhead' because I didn't keep my legs together upon diving in the pool. ;D
I feel that I was richly blessed by knowing this career military man. His 'lessons about life' have served me well. I am proud to have known Ray W. 'Pat' Patterson, USMC, as he was quite a guy.
Just my tribute to one who served.
Nanc