World War II veteran honored

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – A soldier who served his country many years after returning from World War II was honored at Heritage Hall Feb. 19.
The Henry Carter Stuart Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy held a military appreciation ceremony for George William Patrick. Patrick, who has been at Heritage Hall for just about two months, is a life long resident of southwest Virginia.
Patrick was a member of Merril’s Marauders, an infantry unit that served in Burma in World War II. Raleigh Shortt, who along with Patrick started the local VFW post told about Patrick saving a man’s life during that campaign.
“I have heard the story many times of how he saved Clarence D. Short’s life and how Clarence D’s sons thanked him for it,’ Raleigh Shortt said. After being discharged, Patrick returned home and spent more than 20 years in the National Guard.
He was also a member of the Virginia Defense Force and helped Shortt form the VFW post and the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. Senator Phillip Puckett came from Richmond to present a resolution passed by the legislature in Patrick’s honor.
“He came up to me during my first campaign and said you’re my man as long as you’re in there. I’ve never forgotten that and I am honored to present him this resolution,’ Puckett said.
Patrick donned his uniform for the ceremony and his many ribbons and medals were on display. There were pledges to the Virginia, American and Confederate Flags and lots of patriotic music.
Francis Miller and Janice Busic led Patrick into the auditorium where he was presented the awards. Busic said Patrick came from a family where military service ran deep.
“In order to honor him from the UDC we had to show he had ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. We were able to show that members of both sides of his family served in the Confederate army,’ she said.
George Bradshaw a veteran of more recent military service told the group how much he enjoyed seeing Patrick in uniform greeting customers at the local WalMart on Veterans Day and other patriotic holidays.
Patrick, who operated a local wholesale distribution center for many years served as a greeter at WalMart until last year. Heritage Hall Administrator Esteban Duran Ballen closed the program expressing his gratitude to Patrick and other veterans.
“I was not born in this country so I want to take the opportunity to thank you for what you did for the rest of the world,’ Ballen said.