Patrick Joseph Corrigan

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on May 26, 2005:

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Corrigan Born May 7, 1928 - Died May 24, 2005 Patrick Joseph "Pat" Corrigan was born in Michigan on 7 May 1928 and was appointed to West Point from New Mexico. His West Point classmates recall: "Whether pounding the cross country trail or pondering the Debate Council schedule, Pat was on the job. A good man to live with - offering anything from Shakespeare to after taps tales - Pat, and the wives, had fun. Many will remember Pat as the shower baritone of the forty-fifth division, but those who knew him will remember the Ohio man who never passed up an opportunity to help a buddy." (The photo shows the Corrigans in Poland in '92.) During his cadet days Pat went out for Track; was on the Debate Council and with the Portuguese Club; went out for Cross Country; was with the Radio Club; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Pat went in the Air Force and after being eliminated from flying training reported to Ladd AFB in 1952 where he served until 1954. From 1954 to 1955 he was at Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson, Ohio where he earned a BSEE and passed his Professional Engineering Exam in Ohio. From 1955 to 1958 Pat was Missile Electronics Officer with the 3205th Drone Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida. In 1960 Pat earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and in 1961 served with the Ballistics Systems Division at Warren AFB from 1960 to 1962. From 1962 to 1964 Pat was assigned to Headquarters, East Contract Management Region and was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service. In 1964 Pat attended Harvard and in 1965 attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. From 1966 to 1969 Pat was assigned to Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. Pat's last military assignment was to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico from 1971 to 1973; he was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. From 1973 to 1976 Pat was placed on temporary disability retirement list and retired disabled from the United States Air Force in 1976 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Pat and his wife Eleanor made their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In May 1991 the Assembly '51 scribe noted, ". daughter Paula, an AF Captain then, now a Major, and MD had been alerted for overseas assignment to either Europe or Saudi Arabia; she had been located at Holloman AFB, NM as a Flight Surgeon. Currently Paula is the Chief Flight Surgeon at Kadena AFB, Okinawa. Son Patrick II works for Proctor and Gamble as a Chemical Engineer and Research Chemist. Son Chris is in the Naval Reserves serving as Commander of Reserve Air Unit; he also manages a 4000 acre farm in Georgia. Daughter Kathleen earned a Masters degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Washington and is a Manager with the Science Research Corporation." In February 1991 Pat and Eleanor took a 2 1/2 week visit to Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Pat and Eleanor attended the 45th reunion in 1996 and the Colorado Mini in 1997. Pat died of Pnemonia on May 24, 2005.

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