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A/TA Hall of Fame inductee honored at Scott AFB

  • Published
  • By Laura McAndrews
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Retired Maj. Gen. Robert B. Patterson, the 19th person to be inducted into the Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame, was honored in a special ceremony at Air Mobility Command Headquarters Sept. 24 for his "52 years of selfless devotion to mobility forces."

General Patterson was first officially inducted into the A/TA Hall of Fame in November 2008 at A/TA's annual convention in Anaheim, Calif. The Sept. 24 ceremony highlighted the placement of General Patterson's bronzed likeness in Scott AFB's A/TA Hall of Fame display area.

Gen. Arthur Lichte, AMC commander, said the work AMC does today with irregular warfare and building partnership capacity can all be traced back to General Patterson.

"It's fitting that we pay tribute to him," said General Lichte, "because he really was a man ahead of his time."

General Patterson's many accomplishments include the integration of night vision capabilities into combat rescue. He also took the first C-130 Hercules and C-141 Starlifter airlifters to the RED FLAG exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev. Additionally, he was the first to invite international teams to the Volant RODEO -- now named Air Mobility RODEO -- AMC's air mobility competition.

"I can't tell you how much I am honored by this presentation, this induction and being a part of this command for as many years as I have both in uniform and out of uniform. I couldn't be more proud," General Patterson said.

"General Bob Patterson gains icon status today and if you go to Webster's you'll see that icon is defined as uncritical admiration of an object and that is what we have in our hall of fame," said retired Gen. Walter Kross, A/TA co-president and former U.S. Transportation Command and AMC commander. "Whenever someone speaks of special operations, airlift, tactical operations, tactical airlift, assault airlift and 'Bob' at the same time, we know they're referring to Bob Patterson."

General Patterson said he's very proud of each and every commander mobility forces have had and the work each Airman does today is unbelievable.

"I pray every night for the men and women of the service and one part of that prayer is for TRANSCOM and AMC," said General Patterson. "Part of that prayer says, 'Don't let them die untrained, unequipped and not alert.'"

General Lichte said General Patterson's legacy will live on. "You will have a lasting legacy on this command and to all the future Airmen who walk through the halls of Air Mobility Command," he said.