James Ross Patterson was born 3 September 1923 to Henry Marshall Patterson and Edna Easter Rhinehart.
Died non Battle 22 July 1943, California
He is listed in official records under Roane County.
Soldier killed by machine gun fire in camp Accident.
Weapon discharged as Troops unload arms after practice; second man wounded.
One soldier was fatally injured and another seriously wounded when they were shot as a machine gun was accidentally discharged at Camp Irwin north of Barstow Thursday night, according to Coroner R.E. Williams.
Pvt. James R. Patterson, 19 years old, of Erie, Tenn., died at the camp hospital two hours after the accident and Staff Sgt. Warren A. Wilson suffered a severe wound in his left leg.
The two soldiers were struck by bullets from a .50mm machine gun which was being removed from a truck after target practice. Only a few rounds of bullets were fired and the rest struck the ground. The soldiers were assisting in unloading the machine guns when the trigger of one of the guns was touched by one of the soldiers working in the truck. Private Patterson and Sergeant Wilson were standing on the ground. Army officers said the machine guns ordinarily are unloaded before they are placed in the trucks at the firing range. The heavy machine guns do not have safety devices and the triggers are in an exposed position.
Private Patterson was struck in the left thigh. He was given emergency medical treatment, then removed to the camp hospital. His death was due to hemorrhage and shock, Army officers told Coroner Williams.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 3 September 1923
- Date of death: 22 July 1943
- County: Meigs
- Hometown: Erie
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Concord Cemetery, Calico, Meigs County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Top Panel
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