The Peacemakers Quilters will proudly present a Quilt of Valor to Master Sergeant Bradley Patty, U.S. Army National Guard Combat Mechanic, during the annual Independence Day Party in the Park celebration on July 4. The presentation will take place at the lower shelter house at the City Park following the parade at 11 a.m.

On August 4, 1999, Bradley joined the Army at the Military Entree Processing Center in Harrisburg, Pa. He reported for basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., and received further training at the Diesel Mechanic School.

   After completing his training, he was deployed to Camp Casey, South Korea, in June 2002. His duties there were as a truck vehicle recovery sergeant. He was responsible for fixing and/or towing any track vehicle that was broken down.

   From August 2003 to October 2004, he was assigned to be the combat convoy Mechanic stationed at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. As the combat recovery Mechanic, his duties were similar to those of a combat medic, but for vehicles. He was responsible for maintaining all convoy vehicles before a mission. When the mission began and they exited the base gate, he would be the rear vehicle in the convoy. This placed him at the highest risk in the event of an attack on the convoy, but he would also be able to quickly tend to any vehicle that became damaged in a fight, overheated, or simply broke down from the rear position. He would not need to turn around to assist a vehicle behind him.

   The time from November 2005 until his retirement, Master Sergeant Patty was assigned to multiple places, including Fort Knox, Ky., Fort Carson, Colo., Camp Casey, and the DMZ Border in South Korea, Virginia Military Institute, Va., as an Instructor, Camp Pendleton-Robinson, Ark. Fort Riley, Kan., Fort Greg-Adam’s, Va., and the Pentagon.

   One of his most vivid memories is being assigned to the 1173rd Transportation Company. Their mission was to transport captured terrorists from the Abu Ghraib prison to the Iraq courtrooms in Baghdad, Iraq. It is one thing to engage your enemy in the chaos of battle and an entirely different experience to engage them under your custody. The experience of looking your combatant in the eye makes them human, leaving you with many questions, such as who they are, why they desire to kill you, whether they have a wife and children and families, etc. An experience Brad will take to his grave.

For his service to his country, Master Sergeant Patty received the following commendations: the Legion of Merit Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

   Master Sergeant Bradley Patty retired from service on April 30, 2005.