MOH recipient Patterson addresses Legionnaires

Medal of Honor recipient Robert M. Patterson reveled American Legion members with his stories about his three Article 15s during the general session at the organization’s 103rd national convention in Milwaukee on Aug. 30.

The Article 15s were for being late from a weekend pass, disobeying an order and sleeping on guard duty. The third was from retired Lt. Gen. Julius Becton, who was laughing as he doled out the punishment.

“I had learned by then to keep my mouth shut, but I was wondering what the heck he thought was so funny,” Patterson recalled. Years later when they reunited, Patterson asked Becton about that day.

“He started laughing again. And he looked at me and said, ‘Sergeant Major, I’m the only commander who could say he recommended a person for the Medal of Honor in the morning and gave him an Article 15 in the afternoon.’”

A member of American Legion Post 30 Lincolnton, N.C., he joined the Army in 1966. On May 6, 1968, he was serving with Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. His actions during a firefight that day led to Patterson receiving the Medal of Honor.

Introduced as a “true American hero” by American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard, Patterson retired in 1991 as a command sergeant major. “God, I miss my soldiers,” he said.

Patterson does not believe in “natural-born leaders. Leaders are developed.” Pointing to politicians, he advocated for them to support veterans issues.

“We need leaders who are going to be leaders, not mouthpieces.”