Grandfather Served in the Pacific(Saipan,Okinawa) Looking for info

I am trying to find out some information about my Grandfather who served in WWII. I know that he served in the Pacific somewhere from a 5th Grade paper i wrote about him, but other than that i do not remember any details about his service. I have looked up his Army serial number which is #
32212439. His name is Homer F. Patterson. I am hoping that someone can lead me in the right direction. I do not have much family around to give me any clues about him. Thanks for any help that everyone can provide me.
Scott Finn


Moderator - One thread per subject, please.

 

Did he survive the war?
If not, see Corregidor: Pfc. Homer PATTERSON
and My Day With The Rattlesnakes - Bill Calhoun

 

If he didn't survive, god hoping he did, I can make available a pdf you can fill out and then print to obtain his IDPF - aka 293 File - to obtain his records. These records are held at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Virgina.

My grandfather was also in the U.S. Army and on Okinawa. He never talked about it except the rare time when he had a little more beer than usual on his Bday and opened up to say that the "Japs kept strafing the beach and he only had his cot in his tent to hide under." He started laughing after that because he probably thought how pointless it was to hide under a cot. He wasn't super bitter or never showed his anger towards the Japanese, other than he said they could never pronounce words that had "Ls" in them. On that same day, the only time he talked about it, he said we (the U.S. Army in the south of Okinawa) caught the worse since that's where the Japanese were waiting and had their strongest defense built up at.

I suggest a very good book that didn't just focus on the Marines: The Ultimate Battle : Okinawa 1945--The Last Epic Battle of World War II.

Worldcat.org (This links will provide you with libraries that have the copy of this book)
Amazon Books

 

Is this your grandfather?

 

Yes my grandfather survived the war and passes away in 2000. I was trying to find any possible pictures, or enlistment information other that what i found in the archives. Thanks for the responses, i know it has been a while since i have checked this. Thanks again for everyones help. Scott Finn. Scott@arbourcm.com