U.S. Army Capt. Travis L. Patriquin would be proud of his kid sister. Displaying mettle similar to his, she runs marathons in his honor. His daughter, now 18, also is headstrong like him, or so his father tells us.
Capt. Patriquin, who grew up in the southwest suburb of Lockport and Missouri, died of injuries from a roadside-bomb explosion in Iraq, in December 2006. He was 32. He received two Bronze Stars for heroic service and a Purple Heart.
Like other fallen military service members we honor on Memorial Day, Capt. Patriquin left us too soon. They all are missing at weddings, graduations and anniversaries. They are absent on birthdays, on Christmas Day and during Hanukkah, and at everyday happenings that become treasured memories.
EDITORIAL
Patriquin family Christmases are sometimes doozies. Capt. Patriquin’s father, Gary, carries on a family tradition and plays Santa Claus for his grandchildren and their friends. Gary also has played Santa for Gold Star Families of Illinois, those who have lost loved ones to military service.
Travis loved Christmas. One year he drove 18 hours across the country to make it to his family’s Christmas celebration, his father said. He has missed 10 Christmases.
His daughter, Emily, looks out for younger brothers Harmon, 15, and Logan, 10. They live in Louisiana with their mom, Travis’ wife. “She makes sure the boys are in line, but all the kids are good students,” Gary Patriquin said of his oldest granddaughter.
When Travis’ kids visited their grandparents for Easter, they looked at pictures of their dad. “His children have some memories of him,” Gary said. “My goal is to make sure they never forget.”
Initially, Travis’ daughter wanted to work with animals but now she wants to give acting a try, Gary Patriquin said. Her affinity for animals comes from Travis, who also left behind a dog and two cats that Travis’ parents took in.
Bella, Travis’ English springer spaniel, died about three years ago. The dog and a cat named Ferdinand are buried at the foot of Travis’ grave. The family doesn’t think the cemetery allows it, but sometimes you break rules for a good cause. At some point they will order a headstone that includes the names’ of Travis’ beloved pets.
Still going strong is a 17-year-old calico cat, Patrick. “He plops down wherever he wants,” Gary said. “He sleeps on the kitchen table. They say head-butting is a sign of affection. He head-butts me all the time.”
Travis missed his siblings’ weddings and his father’s ribbing of youngest son Steven, 31, who got married in March. “He’s a late bloomer,” Gary said. “I got married at 23.”
Another brother, Daniel, a Will County corrections officer, is married with two stepsons. Sister Karrie, the marathon runner, is married with two kids. Their parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year. Travis’ grandparents on his mom’s and dad’s sides reached 50th anniversaries. “We’ll go for it, too,” his father says.
The hole in their hearts hasn’t gone away, Gary Patriquin said. But it helps a little to know their son loved his work. “He was outgoing, strong and did his work to the best of his ability,” the father said.
Now and then military members who worked with Travis pay tribute to him. At a December news briefing, Col. Steve Warren, while talking about a successful mission in Iraq against the Islamic State, recalled an alliance between Iraqis and Americans to fight Al Qaeda militants, known as the Anbar Awakening. The colonel said Patriquin was the heart, soul and driving force behind it.
Travis was fluent in several languages, including Arabic. In Iraq he befriended local leaders and encouraged them to team with the Americans. Recalling the words of another colonel, Warren said of Travis: “He grew to mythical stature among the tribes. After he was killed and I talked to sheiks. Their eyes would all brim with tears whenever you mentioned his name.”
In the particular is the universal. We tell you Capt. Patriquin’s story today, and about all the living he missed because he gave his life for us, to honor and remember all our fallen soldiers on this Memorial Day.
Capt. Patriquin became a legendary figure in Iraq.
And a proud father, son and brother sorely missed at home.
Follow the Editorial Board on Twitter: @csteditorials