American Hero: Capt. Travis Patriquin

Capt. Travis Patriquin, 32, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, was killed by a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq, on December 6th. He died beside Marine Major Megan McClung and Spc4 Vincent Pomante, from this post.

Capt. Patriquin was a soldier's soldier, who joined the Army after high school, was offered Special Forces training after Basic Training and eventually earned a Bronze Star for valor in Afghanistan. From BLACKFIVE:

In addition to participating in various Special Forces operations, he was also fluent in several languages including Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.

Patriquin is survived by his wife Amy and their children Emily, 7; Harmon, 5; and Logan, 1, who reside in Bonstadt, Germany. He is also survived by his parents Gary and Connie Patriquin of Lockport, Ill., and three siblings.

Here's the Captain's plan for winning the war in Iraq, in pdf format: how to win in Anbar.

Michael Fumento writes about the Captain, and Maj. McClung, here.

Patriquin was exactly the sort of officer we need in Iraq. He spoke at least five languages including fluent Arabic, and was a major player in getting Ramadi sheiks to start supporting Coalition operations by sending men into the Iraqi Police and urging civilians to expose al Qaeda terrorists. He fought in one of the fiercest battles of the Afghanistan war, Operation Anaconda, later receiving the Bronze Star. Patriquin also provided a terrific inbriefing, giving an overview of a city that seems slowly to be improving but is still too much like the local graffiti states: "The graveyard of the Americans." I quoted him at great length in my major article about the trip in the Nov. 27 Weekly Standard.

Fumento writes:

While most journalists heading into Ramadi require no PAO escort, for some reason on December 6 both McClung and Patriquin, plus 22-year-old Army Specialist Vincent J. Pomante III decided to accompany some reporters downtown in a separate vehicle. A tremendous blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) ripped apart their truck, killing all three. I heard about Patriquin from a cousin of his, then left a message for McClung asking for verification and offering her my condolences. And then I found out about her.

Yet another tragic loss. May all three of them rest in peace.

Related posts: Cop The Truth: American Hero: Maj. Megan McClung

***UPDATED***: Linda, Travis' cousin, has posted a virtual cemetery page to honor him. You can find it here: Capt Travis Lyle Patriquin (1974 - 2006) - Find A Grave Memorial

***UPDATED***: According to Michael Fumento, there is a memorial fund for the Captain's children at:

TRAVIS PATRIQUIN FAMILY MEMORIAL FUND
HARRIS BANK
111 W. MONROE ST. 111/1C
CHICAGO, IL 60603

Comments

[Linda]

I have posted a virtual cemetery page for my cousin Travis Patriquin at www.findagrave.com to honor him. You may leave virtual flowers or comments at that site. Thank you to everyone for your support at this time.

[Diana Bathon]

I am Travis Patriquins Aunt. Thank-you so much for all the wonderful things written about him and please continue to keep his family in your prayers.
God Bless America.

[Mike@CopTheTruth]

I'm happy to do it. Please let me know if we can help your family in any way. God bless you all.

[Daniel Patriquin]

Travis is my brother, but also my Hero. Please keep the stories going. I want everyone who didn't meet him, to get to know what kind of man, my hero really was.

[Stefan]

I knew Travis from FT Benning GA where we went to school together. He is an outstanding man and someone I will never forget!!! I discovered this loss just recently when I was reading an old Army Times, I remember thinking prior to this discovery that I should email him and see how he is doing. He will be missed!!

Very Respectfully,
CPT Stefan Lockton

[Stefan]

Daniel,
Your brother is a phenominal man!!! I don't know how to put it in any other words!! I can still hear his voice and see him laughing over a beer at the Canon Brew Pub in Columbus Georgia while we were stationed at Fort Benning!
I wish I could be half as good an officer as he is!!

Very Respectfully,
Stefan Lockton

[Andrew Duprey]

I served with Travis in Ramadi. We became good friends there and I'll never forget the day when he made that "how to win in Anbar" slide show...Man was he jazzed!

He was an awesome guy...I wear a "You are not Forgotten" bracelet in his honor...I miss him, and don't miss an opportunity to share with others what kind of a man he was...Hard to believe it was a year ago that we lost him...

Sincerly
MAJ Andrew Duprey