By Deborah Larsen
Graham Patterson
Graham Spencer Patterson was born in Washington, Michigan, on September 20, 1925, the son of Hugh and Eleanor Mitchell Patterson. He attended Rochester High School, where he played tennis and basketball. Graham would have been a part of the class of 1944, but, along with several of his brothers-in-arms, he earned his final credits in the armed forces and was officially awarded his diploma from RHS in 1946.
In September 1943, Graham enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the attack transport ship USS Neville. The Neville operated in the Pacific Theater in late 1943 and 1944, supporting landings at Tarawa and Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. She also transported ambulatory casualties from the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
After the war, Graham married Helen Byland. He returned to naval service in 1951 during the Korean War and served aboard the USS Jenkins. He was discharged in 1952 and returned to his career with Michigan Bell Telephone Company, where he worked until retirement.
Graham Spencer Patterson died at the age of 82 in 2008, on July 4, which was his favorite holiday. He was laid to rest in a burial-at-sea ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Story details and photo provided by Pam (Patterson) Kildal on behalf of the Graham Patterson family.