There are several lines from Shakespeare which, to me, perfectly reflect where we are at this point in time in the wonderful life saga of Hugh Heflin Pattillo. They are from Romeo and Juliet.
"And when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of Heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night... and pay no worship to the garish sun."
I looked at the stars last night as I flew down here from North Carolina, and suggest each of you gaze at them periodically. They are brighter... we will fall in love with night.
I wanted to come down here to say goodbye in person to this man who touched each of our lives in such dynamic ways. My remarks will cover only that period of time wherein Pat prepared himself for his life's work... to be a career Army officer. The remainder of his life... his military career, will be covered by another friend of Pat's,
Colonel Paul O'Mary.
It all started right here in Hartselle. Pat grew up in a close-knit family... Mom, Dad,csister Rachel (here today), and younger brother, Ralph (note added: Ralph was an F-4 pilot, shot down in VN, never recovered). Dad owned a drug store right here on Main Street. Like many of us, Pat's family had only limited means, yet he wanted to
seek a better high school education than he felt the local school could provide. He saw an article in the Birmingham paper about a scholarship to Gulf Coast Military Academy. Without his family's knowledge, he applied, gathered all the requisite recommendations, took the exams and won a four year scholarship. Pat had three major accomplishments while at Gulf Coast:
1. He was named First Captain of the Cadet Corps his senior year.
2. He won an appointment to West Point.
3. He met and fell in love wih Patricia Danley, the girl who would become his soul mate and life's love.
I met Pat just over 52 years ago, 1 July, 1947 when we both entered West Point as plebes. I might add that there are several other friends of Pat's sitting here who also joined us that day. Pat and I were assigned to the 7th New Cadet Company, and began what is known as "Beast Barracks"... kind of a higher order boot camp, which we felt was probably directed by Attila The Hun, but we survived, and as
September approached, and we moved to our permanent companies where we would spend the remainder of our four years, Pat and I opted to room together. We were assigned to Company C, 2nd Regiment. Pat proved to be a wonderful roommate. I don't recall that we ever had any significant disagreements over the four years, although life with
him was sometimes frustrating... while I struggled with academics, he breezed through them and spent his study time writing letters to Girl-Pat. While I tried to get some extra sack time on the weekends, he would invite his poker club over for long poker sessions.
Pat loved the outdoors, and discovered a little-known program wherein cadets could skip weekends in barracks, check out a military truck and rations and head for the hills surrounding the Academy for campouts. We found an idyllic spot with a stream flowing into a deep pool... when poker was not on the agenda, this became a relaxing retreat for several of us from C-2.... Charlie Crowe, Bill Barott, Earl Jeans,
Lauren Ashley and Bill Cuthbertson usually making up the group.
Pat's strong leadership through the first three years resulted in his
appointment as the highest ranking cadet in our company First Class year... our company commander. In our yearbook, The Howitzer, under his picture is written, "He is one of the few among us who will realize his dream of marrying the girl he had when he entered Plebe Year.. Pat and Pat were married in the Cadet Chapel on graduation day, 5 June, 1951. I was privileged to be his Best Man. Several months later, he was Best Man at my wedding.
Pat has joined the Long Gray Line, and we will miss him, but he has blessed our lives. Words from the final chorus of our Alma Mater say...
"And when our work is done, our course on earth is done,
may it be said, Well Done... be thou at peace...."
Pat, my friend, we salute you and bid farewell, saying
Well Done... be thou at peace.
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