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Capt Alexander M. Patch III was a member of the class of 1942 at West Point.

His father, Lt Gen Alexander M. Patch Jr. was the commander of the U.S. Seventh Army in France.

He was reported wounded in action on 28 August 1944 and returned to his unit a short while before he was killed.

Capt Patch was killed instantly while leading an assault on an enemy position at 2 p.m. (French Time).

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 23 and 27 August 1944. The citation cited: The regimental objective was to capture the high ground in the vicinity of Sailly north of Limay. The attack continued but the advance was bitterly contested. The advantage was all the enemy's for they had ample opportunity to dig in and camouflage themselves in positions that commanded the surrounding terrain. As the attack moved out of the woods on to open ground, Company B had a slight downgrade toward securely established enemy positions. However, with Capt Patch in front of his troops, the company advanced under heavy small arms fire. It was almost impossible to see from whence the fire emanated. Capt Patch spurred his men on, always in the foreground, until finally a bullet hit him in the shoulder. This did not deter him from his task. Never faltering for a moment he continued to lead the attack for two hours after being hit. All the time he was bleeding profusely and growing weaker from loss of blood. No amount of persuasion would make him retire until the objective was in sight and then only with great reluctance. By this time the success of the attack was a certainty. At all times throughout this attack Capt Patch displayed unusual courage and valor. The extraordinary heroism displayed distinguishes Capt Patch as upholding the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.