| Notes |
- James W. Patridge, 63, died January 23, 2011, at Orlando V. A. Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Patridge was born August 4, 1947 in Clay City, IL, the son of Leland and Lillian Patridge. He attended school, both grade and high, in Clay City, graduating in May of 1965. He married Bonnie Bublitz. He later married Sue Fowler.
In June of 1965, having joined the Marine Corps, he reported for basic training in California. After basic training he was assigned duty in Viet Nam.
In March of 1966, at 18 years of age, he was critically wounded. A land mine explosion caused the loss of both legs and his eyesight. After spending several months at Bethesda, MD having numerious surgeries and physical therapy, he was transferred to Hines Hospital in Chicago, and spent another two years there.
Survivors include his wife, Sue Patridge; daughter, Ashley; sons, Shawn, Todd, and Brandon; one sister, Marilyn Patridge; brothers, J. D. and Leland LeRoy; five grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, an infant son, Kirk; and two sisters, Lola Ruth Monical and Lillian Lorena Cook.
Cremation has been accorded, and a memorial service honoring his life and service to his country will be held at the Clay City Community Center, with the Rev. Ron Payne officiating.
Burial with military rites will be at Dillman Cemetery in Sailor Springs, IL.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
(Retyped from obituary published in the Home Town Journal)
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"The Passing of A Hometown Hero" written by Rena Lents Thomas
James Patridge was an honorable young man who died recently in Florida where he had resided in a Veterans' home for the past few years. He was 63 years of age and the cause of death was reportedly due to a stroke.
A young 18 year old Clay City High School graduate probably had no idea what lay ahead of him when he joined the Marine Corps following graduation in 1965, but he never hesitated to do his part.
The United States was involved in the Vietnam War in the 1960's with considerable loss of lives.
James W. Patridge eagerly signed up with the Marines in May of 1965 and, by the latter part of December that same year, found himself in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines H Co., 1st Platoon.
James was the son of Leland and Lillian Patridge of rural Clay City. Leland passed away in 1959 while James was still in school, and in 1966 his mother was working at the Holland Truck Stop east of Flora.
Then the word came that all parents dread to hear who have children in harm's way. On March 15, 1966, Mrs. Patridge received a letter that informed her that James was injured in the vicinity of DaNang, Vietnam. He sustained bilateral amputation of both legs and fragmentation wounds in the chest, face, abdomen and head. His condition was serious and his progress guarded with questionable recovery.
He was first taken to the U. S. Air Force Hospital, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and later transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
The road to recovery was a long and difficult one, but through it all, James astounded everyone with his good spirits and positive mental attitude.
Learning of the death of his closest buddy who was directly ahead of him in the battle area that day, and who tripped the land mine, and another buddy behind him who had also lost both legs, was another shock to the young man. But true to form, he faced his feelings head on and survived the tragic ordeal.
This harrowing experience in Vietnam would be enough for him to be called a hero, but there is more.
Several years later in 1986, a situation arose giving James the opportunity to demonstrate his compassionate and caring nature.
He was living in West Chicago at the time, hearing a mother screaming for help from her home nearby after her baby had fallen into the family's backyard swimming pool, he sprang into action.
James moved his wheelchair more than 80 yards across a field until a line of trees blocked his passage. James, then 38 years old, threw himself onto the ground and crawled the remaining distance of about 20 yards to a porch where the lifeless baby lay.
The mother of the child was frantically attempting to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The X-Marine took over with his lifesaving efforts, administering CPR while his wife, who had followed him from the house, summoned the ambulance.
Little Jennifer Kroll responded to his CPR techniques and began to cough and cry as her heartbeat strengthened and her color returned. She was one year old and recovered at Loyola Medical Center.
All the major news networks reported the life-saving miracle in addition to a story on the incident published in the Reader's Digest.
James didn't consider himself a hero, he was said to have remarked that he wondered why so many lost their lives in the war and others, like himself, were spared.
His experience with the child had answered that question for him, perhaps the purpose of his having been spared was to be there at the right time and place to save another.
A Hero in a true sense! May he not be forgotten!
Many of us remember the little red haired boy with the sunny face as he played on the school playgrounds many years ago.
Rest in peace, James!
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1947 - 2011 (63 years)
[1] 
English
