Mark Patterson of Weare had all of it found out.
Contemporary off six-years of service within the Navy, he’d then end his enterprise diploma at what was then referred to as New Hampshire Faculty. He’d be a school graduate, the primary member of his household to take action.
He’d climb the company ladder. He’d have a spouse and children. He’d come house and have dinner with them. He by no means deliberate to be hundreds of miles away for what appeared like an eternity.
The terrorist assaults on Sept. 11, 2001, modified all the pieces. Planes had been crashing and Patterson, in a short time, knew a pointy pivot from these earlier targets (he earned his diploma) could be obligatory. In response, he joined the Nationwide Guard and made it his life’s work.
This week, as a lieutenant colonel within the Guard and commander of the 941st Army Police Battalion, Patterson was one of many key figures throughout a ceremony honoring 164 Guard members from the Granite State, who will deploy to our southeastern border with Mexico later this month.
A date has not been introduced.
The troopers beneath Patterson’s command will monitor the border areas, including additional units of eyes to assist officers do their jobs extra effectively. They aren’t permitted to interact with anybody suspected of crossing the border illegally.
Patterson on Monday stood in entrance of troopers in Guard fatigues, on an enormous sea of manicured grass on the Nationwide Guard on Sheep Davis Highway in Pembroke, praising the women and men beneath his command for his or her selfless acts throughout pure disasters, battle and worldwide an infection.
He cited numbers, just like the greater than 800,000 vaccines administered by the Guard within the state in the course of the pandemic, and the supply of 400,000 kilos of meals.
Patterson, although, by no means noticed this coming. Not as a army profession man. Serving six years within the Navy positioned him proudly in a protracted line of army relations. That was vital to him. His father served in Vietnam, his paternal grandfather within the Pacific throughout World Conflict II, his maternal grandfather fought in Europe throughout World Conflict I.
“I had achieved my service as a veteran,” Patterson mentioned shortly after Monday’s speeches had been completed. “I deliberate on shifting on with my life and turning into a citizen once more.”
Then the planes struck and hundreds died. At about the identical time that Patterson’s army profession was winding down. The tip of lively responsibility went into impact on Sept. 12, just some quick hours following the mayhem. His path turned clear.
“My mother calls and tells me to activate the TV,” Patterson mentioned. “I flip it on and the second aircraft hit and I instantly knew I used to be going to come back again in some capability.”
He was single then, a faculty scholar.
“I used to be emotionally moved by Sep 11,” Patterson mentioned, “and coming from my service within the navy and my household’s army background, I couldn’t simply sit round and do nothing, so I joined the Guard.”
Patterson knew the hazard of such an expansive and complicated battle, however like so many others, he was able to struggle.
“Should you keep in mind again then,” Patterson mentioned, “we had been all fairly pissed off. My dad is a fight veteran, and so is every man in my household line. I needed to do my half.”
He turned a full-time Guardsman in 2004.
The Guard’s mission later this month at the southeastern border shall be Patterson’s fifth deployment. He served in Afghanistan in 2008 and ‘09.
He lately returned from Kuwait. This subsequent mission is for one 12 months. A 12 months away from his spouse and youngsters.
“As the youngsters become old, it makes it a little bit simpler,” Patterson mentioned.
And as soon as upon a time, earlier than the International Conflict on Terror, Patterson didn’t see himself this manner. He had served, a school training was on the horizon and a brand new chapter in his life was alleged to unfold.
And as a matter of reality, it did.
“I had not thought of doing this as a careerist,” Patterson mentioned. “I solely noticed it as a name to service. I by no means thought I’d do that for 20 or 30 years.
“However what occurred that day was all it took.”
