CDR R. F. Patterson, USN Back to Commanding Officer's page
Commander R.F. Patterson, Commanding Officer, USS JOHN W. WEEKS (D0.701) was
born in Norfolk, Virginia and later graduated from Maury High School in the same
city. He then attended the United States Naval,
Academy and was commissioned as on officer of the Line in 1947. Until 1953,
Commander PATTERSON was of sea on the LOS ANGELES (CA 135), the USS TOLEDO (CA
133) the USS ARNEB (AKA 56) and the USS TWEEDY (DE 532). Upon achieving the rank
of Lieutenant, Commander PATTERSON went to the NROTC unit at Duke University
where he participated in the training of future Naval Officers. From Duke
University, his next orders took him to the USS DARBY (DE 218) and from there to
the USS DOMINANT (MSO 431) on which he was the Commanding Officer and during
which tour he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. From 1959 to 1962
Commander PATTERSON served in the Offices of the Chief of Naval Personnel in
Washington, D.C. In 1962 he reported aboard the USS RANDOLPH (CVS 15) and
assumed the duties of Weapons Officer. He attained his present rank of Commander
in 1963.
Commander PATTERSON relieved Commander J. FITZGERALD as Commanding Officer of
the USS JOHN W. WEEKS on 22 April 1965 in Sitka, Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.