Jerry Dwayne Patton – Seregeant Major, United States Army

Sergeant Major Jerry Dwayne Patton, 40, died on 15 October 2008 during High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) training while assigned to Army USSOCOM preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Jerry is survived by his wife Molly and his sons Chad, Cody, Chase and Connor.

Sergeant Major Jerry Dwayne Patton was born in Columbus, Ohio on 5 June 1968. He graduated from Bexley High School, Bexley, Ohio in June 1986 and entered the Army as an Infantryman in January 1989.Sergeant Major Patton was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. During Operation Just Cause he performed a combat parachute assault at Rio Hato in the Republic of Panama. Jerry left active duty in 1992 and went on to serve in the Illinois National Guards 20th Special Forces Group (A) where he trained as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and earned the Green Beret in 1996. Jerry was assigned to 3rd Battalion 7th SFG (A) and served on Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (ODA’s) 776 and 775. In 2002 Jerry was assigned as cadre at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School at Trumbo Point, Key West, Florida. In 2005 he returned to the 7th Special Forces Group, joining the 1st Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Jerry served as a Special Forces Detachment Operations Sergeant on ODA’s 715 and 733 for two combat deployments. Jerry was subsequently selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. After graduating, Jerry was assigned to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Sergeant Major Patton’s military and civilian education includes: the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), the Army Retention Course, Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), the Survive Evade, Resist and Escape Course (SERE), the Basic Non Commissioned Officer Course (BCNCOC),   the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course, the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course, the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, the Special Forces Dive Medical Technician Course, the Special Forces Combat Diving Supervisor Course, the Jumpmaster Course, the Instructor Training Course, the Advanced NCO Course (ANCOC), the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course (SFAUCC), the Military Free Fall Parachutist Course, the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course, the Special Forces Waterborne Infiltration Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Jerry held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal arts from Excelsior College.

His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster’s, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Cluster’s, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with four knots, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCOPD Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead, NATO ISAF Medal (Afghanistan), Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, Expert Infantryman Badge, Special forces Diving Supervisor Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Assault star, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, El Salvadoran Parachutist Badge, Republic of Greece Parachutist Badge.

Jerry is survived by his wife, the former Ms. Molly Jones of Wenatchee Washington, sons Chad, Cody, Chase, and Connor, parents Cheryl Iacono and Richard Patton, Step-parents Joan Patton and Stephen Iacono, brother Scott Patton and sister Amy (Patton) Space. Step-sisters are Monica Mericle, Susan Ashley, and Jennifer Jackson. Step-brothers are Trent Iacono and James de San Jose.

PATTON, JERRY D

• SGM   US ARMY
• PERSIAN GULF, AFGHANISTAN
• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/05/1968
• DATE OF DEATH: 10/15/2008
• BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 8598
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard