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Patch, Alexander McCarrell "Sandy"

    Date of birth:
    November 23rd, 1889 (Fort Huachuca/Arizona, United States)
    Date of death:
    November 21st, 1945 (Fort Sam Houston/Texas, United States)
    Buried on:
    United States Military Academy Post Cemetery
    Plot: I. Row: C. Grave: 58.
    Service number:
    0-3589
    Nationality:
    American (1776 - present, Republic)

    Biography

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Major General
    Unit:
    Commanding General, HQ, 23rd Infantry Division "Americal Division", U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    1943

    War Department, General Orders No. 18
    Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Major General
    Unit:
    Commanding General, HQ, 23rd Infantry Division "Americal Division", U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    April 1943
    "For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Commanding General, Guadalcanal area, during operations against Japanese land, naval and air forces from 10 December 1942 to 9 February 1943. General Patch employed the units under his command with such coordination, energy, and determination that the Japanese land forces remaining on Guadalcanal were destroyed and Japanese naval and air forces supporting their ground positions suffered severe losses. Under his direction, the final phases of elimination of enemy resistance on the island of Guadalcanal were successfully accomplished."

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 313
    Distinguished Service Medal - Navy/USMC
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant General
    Unit:
    Commanding General, HQ, Seventh Army, U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    March 13th, 1945
    Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
    "For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from 15 March to 15 September 1944."

    Gold star for 2nd DSM
    --
    War Department, General Orders No. 17
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant General
    Unit:
    Commanding General, HQ, Seventh Army, U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    1945
    Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
    "Lieutenant General Alexander McCarrell Patch, Jr. (ASN: 0-3589), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility."

    Second Gold Star for third DSM.
    --
    War Department, General Orders No. 63
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant General
    Unit:
    Commanding General, HQ, Seventh Army, U.S. Army
    Honorary Companion of the Most Honourable Order of Bath (CB)

    War Diary mentions

    27 November 1944 WO 171/840 - 1 Royal Dragoons
    N.T.R. on our own front. 'C' Sqn relieved 'A' Sqn in the BOXMEER – SAMBEEK sector. 'D' Sqn relieved 'B' Sqn in the VORTUM sector. Slight advances are made on all Allied fronts further South. Gen Patton's 3 US Army is reported to have reached the SAAR RIVER South of MERZIG. This places him just inside GERMANY and on the edge of the SIEGFRIED LINE. 7 US Army under Gen Patch succeeds in widening the STRASBOURG corridor and the French 1st Army under Gen De Tassigny advances further Northwards. Fine. Good visibility. The following Officers who recently joined the Regt are posted to Sqns as follows:- 2/Lt. R.A. Gatehouse (recovered from wound received in FRANCE) – 'D' Sqn; 2/Lt. W. Young – 'A' Sqn; 2/Lt. E.W. Youngman, DCM – 'D' Sqn.

    Sources