Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chief Officer Vince Patton Recognized in Boot Campaign

vince patton, boot campaign
Chief Officer Vince Patton Recognized in Boot Campaign

*Boot Campaign (BootCampaign.org) is pleased to recognize the distinguished 30-year military career of Master Petty Chief Officer Vince Patton, U.S. Coast Guard, during Black History Month 2016.

Vince Patton

Master Chief Vince Patton, of Alexandria, Va., became the first African-American designated as the service’s senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2002.

His career, which began with his enlistment in 1972, included staff and operational assignments throughout the U.S. on shore and on three boats (USCGC DALLAS, Governors Island, N.Y.; USCGC BOUTWELL, Seattle, Wash.; and USCGC MAKO, Cape May, N.J.), as well as joint military service assignments in Cuba and Haiti.

Prior to his official selection as the 8th Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, he served as the Command Master Chief for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area. During this assignment he was the senior enlisted advisor to Joint Task Force-160, during Operation Support Democracy, which was the largest alien migration operation in history

Vince Patton learned early on in his career that military service carries with it great risk and responsibility.

“Two years into the Coast Guard I found myself involved in a rescue, a rescue that in some ways I thought was ‘wow,’ these are the kind of things that you see that happen on television,” remembers Patton.  “Here I am, involved in a rescue that was a matter of life and death, and I was one of the key people that was involved with that.”

He continues: “When I joined, and my recruiter promised me within the first four years in the Coast Guard I was going to have a Coast Guard unit commendation, I don’t know if that was just his recruiting pitch or not. But the truth of the matter is I did get one.”

That first honor turned out to be just the beginning of an illustrious Coast Guard career.

Awards were numerous for Master Chief Patton during his three decades of service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon, eight Meritorious Team awards, and nine Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals.

He also earned the Cutterman’s insignia, has completed ten ‘jumps’ with the U. S. Army 82nd Airborne Division to earn the coveted “Parachutist Wings” specialty badge, and was chosen as one of the Olympic Torchbearers for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

A native of Detroit, Mich., all of Master Chief Patton’s college education was earned while on active duty.

He earned a doctorate of education from the American University, (Washington, D.C.), a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Loyola University (Chicago, Ill.), and bachelor’s degrees in social work from Shaw College (Detroit, Mich.) and communications from Pacific College (Angwin, Calif).

What he may be most proud, however, is the education the military gave him in “human relations.”

“The Service offers an awful lot for people in terms of giving you the right kind of skills, but more important, the human relations aspect,” says Patton.  “I think every veteran that serves, whether it’s three or four years or 30 years as I have served, you come out with a Ph.D. in human relations because of working with and dealing with people of all walks of life.  As you carry on in your life, and doing different things, you find that you have no boundaries.  It’s endless, or boundless what you can do.”

Boot Campaign thanks you for your service, Master Chief Petty Officer  Vince Patton.

Vince Patton 8th Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (RET.)

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African-Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as “Black History Month.”

 About Boot Campaign

Established in 2009, Boot Campaign is a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to promoting patriotism for America and our military community; raising awareness of the unique challenges service members face during and post-service; and providing assistance to military personnel, past and present, and their families.

Retail sales of combat boots, apparel, and mission-focused merchandise, general public donations, and corporate sponsorships fund programs that support military families. Learn more at https://bootcampaign.org and join the #BootsOn community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @Bootcampaign.

 

 

source:
Barry L. Smith
[email protected]

 

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