caption serviceyears branch birth_place allegiance unit awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date rank image article_title name
patterson in 2012 1966 -- 1991 united states army durham , north carolina united states of america 17th cavalry regiment medal of honor place of burial vietnam war 16 april 1948 command sergeant major robert patterson 2012.jpg robert martin patterson
 robert martin patterson
robert martin patterson

robert martin patterson -lrb- born april 16 , 1948 -rrb- is a retired united states army soldier and a recipient of the united states military 's highest decoration -- the medal of honor -- for his actions in the vietnam war .
