Posted by XXXXXXXXXX on April 22, 2008:

Patteson Gilliam NO. 16574 CLASS OF 1948 KILLED IN ACTION, AUGUST 22, 1950, IN KOREA AGED 23 YEARS CONSIDERED from all aspects, Pat had a very full life. He was only twenty-three when he was shot down in a F-51 near Uisong, Korea, but he had had many experiences — some pleasant, some not; in fact, from the time he was born he seemed to be rushing through the pains and joys of life. Patteson Gilliam was born in Petersburg, Virginia on, August 31st, 1926. His parents were Robert Skelton Gilliam and Jennie Bell Patteson Gilliam, who had previously given birth to a boy and a girl bearing their respective names. Pat was thirteen years younger than his brother; nine years younger than his sister — and was therefore referred to, and treated as, "the grandchild" even before he was born. Some of his parents' close friends thought Pat would be brighter, more intelligent than the other children because his parents were older; all of their friends and relatives seemed to feel that in some respect Pat would be outstanding. A few months after Pat's birth, the Gilliama moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, and before he was five, they moved to Columbia, South Carolina, for a short time — and then back to Petersburg, where Pat went to grammar and high school. During the formative years of his life, asthma probably directly and indirectly influenced his life more than any other one thing. He was overcome by this awful condition early in life and suffered more than most people suffer throughout their lives. His mother spent many a night and day comforting him — by reading, talking, and playing games. When he was older, he learned to amuse himself by reading, performing electrical or chemical experiments, stamp collecting, or by concentrating on any of the many things which interested him. He learned how to be happy under adverse conditions; how to fight against odds; how it is possible to attain practically any goal if a real effort be made. In school he was a good student without being too good. The asthma caused him to miss so much time that he was never at the top in his class, but he was always close to it. Another factor was that Pat appreciated jokes and enjoyed playing pranks. He made friends easily and early. Pat, as a youngster, was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America. He liked games such as football and baseball — but he dearly loved to roam the woods and hunt, and to fish in one of the nearby rivers. Somehow he learned early the value of money and always had a scheme for making it and a better one for saving it. Pat was not obstinate but he was certainly persistent. His father would be so amused by his persistency that he usually laughed and gave in to Pat's whims. Fortunately, Pat was persistent only when he should have been. If he ever felt anything was important to accomplish, he would accomplish it. Upon graduating from high school, Pat entered the Virginia Military Institute and remained there for about a year and a half. He wanted to enter the Air Corps but he was persuaded to enter West Point instead. Undoubtedly this decision, which necessitated his missing active duty in World War II, influenced his decision in June, 1950, to volunteer for duty in the combat area of the Far East. Pat's four years at the Point are a matter of record. His tenure there was probably similar to that of his other classmates, except that at first it must have been a struggle for him to maintain his physical condition. By the time he graduated he had so improved himself physically that he was six feet tall and weighed one hundred and eighty-five pounds. Asthma had practically left him and he had become healthy. He was a youthful-looking, handsome blond — loved and respected by his many close friends. His suffering and his close relationship with his parents must have influenced Pat toward becoming the quietly religious person that he was; he frequently served as Crucifer and Acolyte at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Petersburg, Virginia. He was surely a regular fellow, yet one could not help but feel that there was almost a divine goodness about him. He seemed to have a wise understanding of life itself and of all the good things on earth. He knew how to please people and tried to do so whenever possible; he understood his parents' feelings for him, and respected them. After training at Lackland and Randolph Fields, Texas, he went to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was the first in his class to "solo". After receiving his "wings" on September 30, 1949 he was assigned to duty at Hamilton Field, California. He was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and served as Adjutant of his organization. Pat made many new friends at these four posts. He volunteered for duty in Korea, and on July 10, 1950 he was transferred to Japan. There he flew F-80's and F-51's on missions to Korea, and spent his spare time looking up his friends and discussing with them the problems of the world. Letters from his friends indicate that he brought them comfort and inspiration. Pat was shot down behind enemy lines on August 22, 1950, and apparently did not have time to escape from the F-51 after he determined that he could not fly to friendly territory. Apparently he was thrown from the plane upon impact; he must have died instantly, which was especially fitting in view of the pain he suffered early in life. He had a quick but full life. On September 28, 1950, two of Pat's friends — Captain Edward E. Sharp and First Lieutenant Rodman Saville — found the wreckage of the aircraft and recovered his remains. Pat was buried in United Nations Cemetery No. 2 near Taegu, Korea. Posthumous awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Purple Heart were made to him and presented to his parents in a ceremony at Langley Atr Force Base, Virginia, on 21 April 1951. Pat leaves as survivors, in his immediate family in addition to his parents, his sister, Mrs. James H. Powell of Petersburg, Virginia, and his brother, Robert S. Gilliam, Jr. of Nyack, New York. Pat's many Army and Air Force friends have brought much comfort and relief to his family through their kind and considerate letters. —R. 8. Gilliam, Jr.

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