Edwin D. Patrick

Major General Edwin Davies Patrick (11 January 1894 – 15 March 1945) was an American general who was the commander of the 6th Infantry Division during World War II.

Edwin Davies Patrick
Edwin Patrick as captain with the 14th machine gun Bn. in December 1918
Born(1894-01-11)January 11, 1894
Tell City, Indiana
DiedMarch 15, 1945(1945-03-15) (aged 51)
near Montalban (now. Rodriguez), Rizal, Luzon Island, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Place of burial
Greenwood Cemetery, Tell City Indiana
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1915-1945
Rank Major General
Unit14th Machine Gun Battalion
15th Infantry Regiment
Commands held 6th Infantry Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Purple Heart

Biography

He was born January 11, 1894 in Tell City Perry County, Indiana, was the son of John Thomas Patrick and Anna Elnore Menninger, sister of Carl Frederick Menninger, founder of the Menninger Clinic. Patrick was raised in Tell City, Indiana, and was commissioned in the Indiana National Guard in 1915, following his graduation from college. He never joined the United States Military Academy and became 2nd Lt. with the National Guard in 1917 instead.[1]

With the US intervention in World War I Patrick joined the 14th Machine Gun Battalion and fought in France with the American Expeditionary Forces in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.[1]

World War II
Major generals Patrick (center), Griswold (left) and Hall (right, pointing) on March 13, 1945.
Funeral service for Edwin Patrick

During World War II, Patrick served on the staff of Admiral William Halsey for a brief period and then became Chief of Staff of general Walter Krueger's 6th Army. He was the commander of the task forces in the battles of Wakde and Noemfoor. Afterwards, he was given command of the 6th Infantry Division.[2]

During the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 Patrick inspected troops east of Manila on March 14. A Japanese soldier, who had remained in hiding behind the lines, opened fire from 75 yd (69 m) with a machine gun, mortally wounding Patrick,[3][4] who died the next day.[5]

Edwin Patrick was one of only three American division commanders to die in combat action in World War II.[2] Patrick was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. A Navy transport ship, USNS General Edwin D. Patrick (T-AP-124), was named in his honor.

See also

References
  1. Cornebise, Alfred Emile (2015). The United States Army in China, 1900–1938: A History of the 9th, 14th, 15thand 31st regiments in the East. NC: Mcfarland& Company Inc. p. 175. ISBN 9780786497706.
  2. Heefner, Wilson A. (1995). Twentieth Century Warrior: The Life and Service of Major General Edwin D. Patrick. Nebraska: Shippensburg. ISBN 0-942597-81-8.
  3. The Michigan Alumnus, Vol. LI, 7. October 1944 - 22 September 1945 , Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, page 359
  4. "Sixth Infantry Division in World War Ii, 1939-1945", 1983, Battery Press Inc, ISBN 0898390737, page 114
  5. Walter Krueger:"From Down Under To Nippon: The Story Of Sixth Army In World War II", 1989, Battery Press Inc, ISBN 978-0898391251, Chapter 30
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