Ft. Benning ranger killed in Iraq

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service)—An Army Ranger died April 18 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Company B, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Staff Sgt. James R. Patton was conducting a combat operation in northern Iraq when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in which he was riding crashed.

"Staff Sergeant Jimmy Patton was the life of his platoon and the epitome of a selfless servant," said Col. Dan Walrath, 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment commander. "He made the best of every situation regardless of circumstance and he always exuded an easy confidence that ‘it could be done.'"

Patton was on his seventh deployment in support of the War on Terror. He had previously deployed twice to Iraq and four times to Afghanistan.

"Staff Sergeant James Patton was the epitome of the American Ranger - Warrior, Patriot, and dedicated to mission accomplishment. Staff Sgt. Patton was killed in a helicopter crash on one of the most significant missions since the beginning of the Iraq War," said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, 75th Ranger Regiment commander. "Jimmy trained his Rangers well; those that were not injured secured the crash site, evacuated the wounded, and then successfully completed the mission. Staff Sgt. Patton's spirit lives on in the Rangers he led in combat and the friends and families he touched throughout his life."

Patton enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2004, and following completion of One Station Unit Training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. During his service with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, he served as a grenadier, fire team leader, and rifle squad leader.

Patton is survived by his wife Beatriz and daughter Cecilia of Columbus, Ga., and his parents Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory and Sheila Patton of Indian Mound, Tenn.

This special gift and certificate were presented to ThankYouSoldier.com on March 22nd from a soldier we recognized as a "Hero of the Week" a number of months ago. The letter which accompanied it was a thank you for all of the letters and care packages received through the ThankYouSoldier network of supporters. I am proud to accept such a great honor for all of those who stand with me and ThankYouSoldier to make sure none of our deployed Heroes every feels forgotten!

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OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

Presented to

ThankYouSoldier.com

This American Flag was flown on the 24th of February 2010, over the city of Baghdad and other areas of Iraq by AH-64D Apache Longbows from 1-227 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, while conducting missions for the 1st Cavalry Division in the continuing effort to liberate the people of Iraq.

CW2 Patrick D. Braman : Pilot In Command

CW2 Matt Colon : Co-Pilot / Gunner