Recently celebrating his 102nd birthday, he has seen more than a Century of life's changes. He fought for his country, received a Purple Heart after being wounded in battle, and has been married to the love of his life for 76 years. Who is he? He is Corporal Willie Floyd Patton.
Patton was honored at the annual Quilt Retreat in Ulysses last weekend when the newly formed Ulysses, Kanas Quilts of Valor group presented him with their very first quilt of valor presentation.
"We represent more than 10,000 members and volunteers across the nation that strive to fulfill the quilts of valor mission statement," explained member Barbara Sullins. "Our mission is to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war with quilts of valor."
Sullins sat down with Patton recently to learn more about his military career.
"I enjoyed listening to Willie and his many stories of his time in the service," Sullins said. "He feels the good Lord was there beside him, helping him to stay alive. We are honored to be able to award him this Quilt of Valor."
Patton entered the United States Army in 1948, when he was 24 years of age. He completed his basic training at Fort Riley in Kansas, before transferring to Fort Benning, Ga., where he was trained as a machine gunner. Patton would ultimate be sent to Korea with the Army Reserves.
Curiosity would lead to disobeying orders when Patton realized the ship he was on would be going by the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Willie was sent by ship from California to Korea," Sullins said. "He was assigned to the kitchen on the ship, but he didn't want to miss seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, as he felt hit might be the only time he would get to see it."
Patton disobeyed the orders given to him and rather than report to the kitchen, he went to the top of the ship so he could see the bridge.
"It so happened," Sullins said, "Willie did not get his sea legs very early in the trip."
Even though Patton had been provided with a food card to eat his meals, not having sea legs resulted in the availability of the food being a moot issue.
"It did him no good as he could not hold his food down," Sullins explained.
It did not take long for Patton's indiscretion of disobeying orders to be discovered. As punishment, they took his food card away and sent him to the kitchen to fulfill his duties.
"One of the cooks made sure he was able to eat and get his strength back, so he made it to Korea," Sullins said.
It was while in the heat of battle that Patton would earn a Purple Heart.
"He and his friends were in a fox hole when they looked there was the enemy standing above them," Sullins said. "Willie then felt something hit him on the shoulder. Willie was sent to Japan to the hospital. Once healed, returned to the fighting in Korea."
Sullins and group member Mari Honstead made the quilt the Quilt of Valor group presented to Patton. The quilt has an eagle soaring over and under stars that is bordered by red, white and blue. The back is covered by silver and gold stars on a navy background, which was donated by Shelley McLeod.
The quilt was finished with stairs, and loops quilting by Honstead and Sullins.
Along with Sullins, McLeod and Honstead, other members include Artis Gayle Archuleta, Tammy Barb, Susan Heddleston, Terrie Hiner, Josephine Jellison, Kiley Long, Gayla Lund, and Becky Schloemer.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here