Millard H. Patrick was in Patton's 3rd. Army, 5th Infantry Div., 11th Infantry Regiment, Company K Headquarters. His military records were destroyed when the National Personnel Record Center burned in July of 1973. He has an identical twin brother Milton W. Patrick, who was with him throughout his time in the service so we have first hand information to share.

Millard was born an identical twin on March 26, 1923 in Ocoee, Fl. which was at that time a lazy little crossroads north of Orlando, Fl. They were the only children of Ethel and Aubie Patrick. His twin brother is named Milton. When Millard was 13 his Father took a manager's job of a 1200 acre orange grove in Fort Pierce, Fl. Living on a large grove the boys loved to hunt and fish and they worked on the grove in the summer time when not in school.

He and his twin played football in the only High School in Fort Pierce. Millard excelled in all sports and was very popular with the girls as he drove a Model A. Ford with a rumble seat. Sometimes there were problems with the twins looking so much alike not only with the girls but with teachers. He and his twin both went to Oglethorpe University on football scholarships. He loved Atlanta and had a girlfriend there but his love affair was cut short by his induction into the Army at Camp Blanding, Fl on June 30, 1943. He trained with heavy artillery at Camp Haan, California for 12 months where he endured the extreme heat in the daytime and the cold at night losing several pounds but becoming tough and hard. He did go to Riverside and also to Los Angeles to the USO for dancing when on leave. He loved to jitterbug. After 12 months at Camp Haan training on 50 caliber machine guns and 40mm anti aircraft guns he was sent to Camp Carson, Co. At Camp Carson he trained with the 45 pistol and AK Browning automatic and carbines, bazookas and mortars for 3 months. Millard and Milton were together throughout training and service.

They were shipped to New York City Port of Demarcation and shipped to Ireland, a trip that lasted 11 days because of zigzagging to avoid submarines. Upon landing in Ireland they were immediately flown to France as replacements. They landed at Omaha beach and were sent to the front line. They passed through Fontainebleau and headed toward Metz. They were in the Argonne Forrest which was a reminder that their Uncle was wounded in that very place in WWI. At that time they were told which units they were attached. They were the Red Diamond 3rd Army under General Patton and the 5th Infantry Div, 11th Infantry Regiment. They moved right up to the line as replacements. They arrived at the Moselle River where the Army Engineers were trying to build a bridgehead. Millard and Milton were to go onto a horseshoe defense south of the bridgehead to draw fire. On their way across the Moselle their boat was blown out of the water and they had to grab another boat to get across.

Milton was handed a bazooka, Millard had the ammunition. When they got across they were sent to the point but Milton was put with another person who had ammunition. Millard was made ammunition bearer. Under heavy fire they dug foxholes. Millard's foxhole was about 25 feet from Milton's and they were held at front line for 3 days. German tanks and men were coming right past them during the nights. Milton got hit with shrapnel in the wrist and his hand was hanging off to the side. Both bones broken twice and bleeding profusely, he had to apply a tourniquet. Millard was hit by shrapnel in the hip and he limped over to Milton's foxhole. When he saw that Milton could not open his K ration he knelt down and fed him. They were both wounded and needed to go back across the river to the medics. Millard left to go to his foxhole about 25 feet away saying "I'll be right back" and was never seen by his brother again. After treatment in a field hospital, Milton was sent to a hospital in England he tried repeatedly to find Millard through the Red Cross. Being Identical twins the Red Cross would say "He was here yesterday looking for you" but it would be a mistaken identity.

It wasn't until Milton was at Welsh rehabilitation hospital in Daytona, Florida when the Chaplains came finding him on the beach to tell him that Millard had been killed in action.

Sometime later Millard's parents were notified that their son was KIA and buried at the American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg, asking if they wanted the remains exhumed and sent home. They decided against moving the body. Millard now has 2 nephews and 3 nieces, 12 great nieces and nephews who all know of his heroic service to our country.