Memorials › SGT Orville Leroy Patterson

SGT Orville Leroy Patterson

10 Oct 1922 – 13 May 1981

Birth	10 Oct 1922
Death	13 May 1981
Cemetery	Riverland Cemetery Stanfield , Clay County , Texas , USA
Added by	Richard Hollis on 03 Jan 2009
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10576920

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SGT USMC

Bio

from a note found in Orville's things Mom inherited from him. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp 23 Aug 1941 and on the morning of Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941 was just two days off it's shore. He was enroute to Santa Cruz, an island in the south Pacific, to help build an air base. When the news was heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii they returned to San Francisco, California. He trained in Camp San Diego Marine Base and here was given two medals, one was for expert bayonetist and the other sharpshooter and rifle. On the 1st day of July 1942 he shoved off from San Diego and they landed in the Solomons 7 Aug 1942. He fought there until 6 Feb 1943 and he wears a star to designate a presidential citation. Also he has two more starts to denote major operations. One defensive and one offensive. After all resistance had ended he was taken to Wellington, New Zealand to get a much needed rest. He lived there until 5 Oct 1943 when he got aboard ship to head for Tarawa, a tiny island in the South Pacific. He reached this tiny island on the 20th day of November 1943. In waist deep water he was hit in the head "and a mighty good helmet was ruined". He continued to wade ashore and he was agian hit this time in the hip. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds recevied here. He received another star to designate another presidential citation. He wears a star to show for this major battle too. They took the island in four days so 24 Nov 1943, he left for Hawaii. He was with the 3rd Battalion, Company M. under Major Ryans. He made Corporal while on the island.

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