Honors for a patriot

William Patterson doesn’t look like the hero he is. With his graying hair, sparkling blue eyes, and ready laugh, the affable Patterson is always ready to share a story or a quip or two.
But more than six decades ago, Patterson was a Navy pilot locked in a life or death struggle against Japanese pilots in the skies over the South China Sea.
In recognition of the 85-year- old’s defense of the nation and the freedom of religion that is its hallmark, Patterson’s church, Heritage Baptist in Woodbridge, honored him with its Patriot Award on Nov 8.
“I was a little surprised,” Patterson said of the award. “They told me to make sure I was here.”
Before the award was presented, a video highlighting Patterson’s service in World War II was shown to the appreciative congregation.
“There are heroes among us. Mr. Patterson is one of them,” said Pastor Michael Edwards, who presented Patterson with the award to loud applause from those in attendance.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Patterson was still in high school, living with his family in Norfolk. The day that would forever be remembered as one of the darkest in America’s history was quiet and peaceful at the Patterson home.
That peace was shattered when the family learned of the attack. Patterson remembers his aunt calling out to him from the front porch.
“You’ll never believe what happened,” she said. “The Japanese have attacked our fleet in Hawaii and destroyed almost everything.”
Patterson finished high school and entered Navy Air Cadet training. He earned his “wings of gold” almost two years after Pearl Harbor. His first assignment was as a torpedo pilot. When Patterson was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 9, he participated in the first carrier strike on Tokyo after the Doolittle Raid in 1943 and also provided support for the Marines who were on the ground in Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
During the Battle for Okinawa in 1945, the Japanese Navy sent a large contingent of its ships against the U.S. Navy in an attempt to disrupt the support that American sailors were providing to Marines on the ground.
Patterson was soon called upon to attack one of the Japanese destroyers. Patterson and his fellow pilots faced heavy anti-aircraft fire during the confrontation, and he soon found himself flying solely by his instruments.
“I flew off the USS Yorktown and USS Lexington,” Patterson said. “They were shooting at us off the destroyer and I attacked them, with five others. It sank.”
Patterson was awarded the Navy Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor for valor, for his efforts.
“Patterson broke through the clouds and pressed home his attack to point-blank range in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire to score a direct hit and contribute materially to the sinking of the cruiser a minute later. Subjected to intense antiaircraft fire from the cruiser and destroyer during his retirement from the strike, he brought his plane and crew through unscathed,” reads Patterson’s Navy Cross citation.
Members of Patterson’s family were in attendance to celebrate the award with him. After the service, Patterson also received congratulations from numerous members of the congregation, who thanked him for his service.