From a contemporary press report:
Michael Pittenger Boak, 57, a 33-year veteran of the Marine Corps who retired as a colonel in 1998, died of pancreatic cancer August 18, 2000 at his home in Burke, Virginia.
Colonel Boak had had a home in the Washington area since the late 1980s. He was a member of St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax and did volunteer work at Bryant Alternative High School in Alexandria.
Colonel Boak, a native of Ontario, Oregon, was a graduate of the University of Oregon and received a master’s degree in business management from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island.
His final military assignment was with the board of naval records in Washington, where he reviewed discharges. He was a Persian Gulf War veteran, and his decorations included the Legion of Merit and Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Survivors include his wife since 1966, Michele Boak of Burke; two daughters, Kathy Sikora of Castle Rock, Colo., and Erin Foster of Manassas; a son, Michael Edward Boak of Burke; two brothers; and three grandchildren.
BOAK, MICHAEL PITTENGER, Col, USMC (Ret.)
On August 18, 2000, at his residence, MICHAEL P. BOAK, loving husband of Michele (nee Morris); loving father of Katherine Sikora, Erin Foster and Michael Edward Boak; cherished brother of Duane and Kerry; devoted grandfather of Robert, Zachary and Scott Foster. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, 11 a.m., at St. Mary’s Historic Catholic Church, Ox and Fairfax Station Rds. Inurnment Tuesday, September 5, 8:45 a.m., at Fort Myer Chapel, Arlington, Virginia with full military honors.
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