World War II Honoree

Patrick Eichele

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

He enlisted July 28, 1941, at Fort Slocum, New Jersey, for his basic training and was later sent to Fort Clayton, Panama. There he spent two and one-half years. He was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in mid-1944 to train as a paratrooper and then went to Fort Benning, Georgia. In April of 1945 he left for overseas duty with the Medical Transport Attachment, Field Artillery. He was stationed aboard a mine sweeper on its way to Makena, Hawaii. He manned a gun on an Army transport from Hawaii to Sidney, Australia. Returning to the United States, he enlisted in the Paratroopers. He was injured while making a jump and was given a medical discharge on August 18, 1945. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the American Theatre, the Pre-Pearl Harbor and the Philippine Liberation Medals.