Publish Date 
Written by Gary W. Eldridge, a retired Army colonel who had been a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia, died of cancer September 8, 2001, at Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
Colonel Eldridge, a native of Pontiac, Michigan, served in the Army as an AH-1 Cobra helicopter pilot in Vietnam during the war there. Among his decorations were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal.
He moved to Springfield in the early 1980s when he was assigned to the Pentagon, and retired from the Army in 1993 after 26 years of service.
He received a bachelor's degree from Golden Gate University and a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University.
Survivors include his wife, Donna Eldridge, and their son, Douglas L. Eldridge, both of Springfield; his parents; three brothers; and a sister.
ELDRIDGE, GARY
- COL US ARMY
- VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 09/29/1967 – 06/30/1993
- DATE OF BIRTH: 07/24/1947
- DATE OF DEATH: 09/08/2001
- DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/04/2001
BURIED AT: SECTION 65 SITE 2046
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard