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Paul was a parachutist, and was killed in action during the initial D-Day invasion of Normandy in France.
He was flying in one of thirty-six C-47 aircraft on the combat Mission 'Boston' with the 82nd Airborne, 61st Air Transport Troop Carrier Group that left from Barkston Heath Airfield UK, Series 25 Flight Plan in formation, having a Drop Zone T, near the vicinity of the village of Amfreville, FRANCE; Paul’s jump release time was at 0238 Hours.
Several days later, his Company was moving from Etienville, along a road to the northwest. He was killed in action when hit by a mortar shell on D-Day +8, near the vicinity of La Bonneville, FRANCE. His Commanding Officer, who was with him, had been killed in action just the day before in a similar manner.
Paul Everette Patterson was born 2 November 1922 in the community of Pine Level, Greene County, Mississippi, to Emmett Nathaniel Patterson, Sr. and Lola Idell (Williams) PATTERSON. Paul was the youngest child of seven from parents Emmett, Sr. And Lola: Rudolph Glennon, Guyton Sharp, Mabel Alice, Emmett Nathaniel, Jr., James Albert, Mary Priscilla, and Paul Everette Patterson. Henry Patterson was a half-brother, born to Emmett, Sr. and his second wife, after his mother Lola had tragically passed away while pregnant with another child on the way.
He graduated from Leakesville High School Class of 1941, along with his cousin, Flight Officer George Franklin Churchwell, Jr., who had also been killed in service during WWII as the Co-Pilot of a B-24 bomber. This was a very small class, consisting of only twelve young men, and among only several other young women. Paul played on the high school football team, along with the other Leakesville Boys from his class.
Paul entered the service 15 December 1942 at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and at that time, he was residing in Mobile.
His brother, James, told that the family opted to leave Paul buried in France, rather than remove him to Mississippi.
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