Members of the Allen D. Nease NJROTC had the honor and privilege of presenting the family of John L. Patton with an American flag for his service to our country. Mr. Patton, a 101-year-old Navy veteran, passed away on Oct. 19, 2024. He left behind a shining legacy of service, surviving some of the most momentous battles in the Pacific Theater during WWII. These battles included the Battle of Midway, where he was stationed aboard the flight deck of the USS Enterprise while kamikaze pilots were coming so close that he could see their faces as they narrowly missed his ship. He also fought in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Mr. Patton earned six bronze stars for outstanding bravery by the time he reached 20 years of age.
Last year, Patton celebrated his 100th birthday on March 23, 2023. He was honored by the St. Johns County Commissioners, and during the celebration, Patton addressed several Nease NJROTC cadets. The interaction was impactful for the cadets as well as Patton. He said meeting the Nease cadets gave him hope our country was still turning out future leaders.
On Nov. 15, 2024, Patton’s family and friends organized a celebration of his life. The gathering was held at Mission BBQ, an establishment known for generosity to our nation’s military as well as first responders. Over 75 friends and family members honored Patton’s life with a wonderful meal.
In a full circle moment, Nease NJROTC cadets performed a flag presentation ceremony. This is a ceremonial folding of the American flag and presenting it to the next of kin. Patton’s eldest son, Rex Patton (whose daughter Lyndsi graduated from Nease in 1996), was moved to tears as he received the flag in his father’s honor. Participating cadets also felt the magnitude of the moment and were honored to have been invited.
Thank you to Rex Patton, Ron Patton, their families, and Larry Ward for including the Nease NJROTC cadets in this extraordinary celebration. Thank you, Mr. Patton, for your extreme bravery and service to our country. It is an example to future generations.
The Patton family and friends have committed to a $1,000 scholarship to be given to a deserving Nease cadet annually in honor of Mr. Patton.
