Patton, Oliver B(eirne) 1920-2002
PATTON, Oliver B(eirne) 1920-2002
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born December 24, 1920, in Washington, DC; died of congestive heart failure September 15, 2002, in Fort Belvoir, VA. Military officer and author. Patton was a U.S. Army brigadier general who early in his career served in Europe during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War, later drawing on his experiences to write historical novels. After enlisting in the army in 1939, he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1944. During World War II he was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war for the rest of the war; he was also wounded in Korea. Patton served in the U.S. Intelligence during the Vietnam War and in the early 1970s was an advisor in Iran. He also served as deputy assistant chief-of-staff at the Pentagon until his retirement in 1974. Following his retirement from the military, Patton authored five historical novels: The Hollow Mountains (1976), My Heart Turns Back (1978), Western Wind (1981), The Mojave Design (1982), and The Silent Snow (1988). He also talked about his war experiences in a PBS television documentary about the Battle of the Bulge. Patton received numerous military honors for his service to his country, including two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, and two Cross of Gallantry medals.
OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:
periodicals
Washington Post, September 19, 2002, p. B6.