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

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 a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard in 1915, following his graduation from college versus being commissioned via the United States Military Academy. With the US intervention in World War I Patrick joined the 14th Machine Gun Battalion of the 5th Division and fought in France with the American Expeditionary Forces in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. For heroism during the war, Patrick received a Silver Star Citation, which was converted to the Silver Star when the decoration was established in 1932.

World War II

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. During the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 Patrick was inspecting troops near Mount Mataba, south of Montalban, east of Manila on March 14. A Japanese soldier, who had remained in hiding behind American lines, opened fire from 75 yard with a machine gun, mortally wounding Patrick, who died the next day. General Patrick was buried in the Manila American Cemetery on 26 November 1945. Edwin Patrick was one of only three American division commanders to die in combat action in World War II. The other two were Maurice Rose and James Edward Wharton. Patrick was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Legacy

A Navy transport ship, USNS General Edwin D. Patrick (T-AP-124), was named in his honor.

Awards

Dates or rank