Forrest Patton - About-Me

About Me

1944 - 1962: Born in Dallas, TX. Raised in Houston, but spent summers and Holidays on Grandparent’s ranch in Greenville, TX.

1962: Graduated from Spring Branch High, Houston, TX. Enrolled in North Texas State University, majoring in business.

1964: Dropped out of college and joined the Marine Corps. Completed boot camp at San Diego. Infantry squad leader for a short time, then selected for flight training.2nd in basic flight class of 33.
1965-1971: Completed flight training. Flew F4B Phantom in Viet Nam. 153 combat missions. Checked out as plane commander in C-54 and C-117 while stationed at Iwakuni, Japan.

1971-1972: Instructor Pilot at VT-23, Naval Air Station Kingsville, TX (the same place I trained and graduated from in 1966). Flew the TA4J Skyhawk. Qualified in all stages.

1972 - 1974: Reserve Duty with Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-112 in Dallas, TX flying the F8H Crusader. Civilian employment: various construction jobs.

1974 – 1976: Returned to active duty. Stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma AZ, flying the F4 Phantom. Assigned duty as Wing Operations Officer.

1976 – 1977: Spent the summer as a white water tour guide on the Snake and Rogue Rivers.

1977 – 1979: Joined the U.S. Forest Service as an entry level fire fighter. Within a month was Crew Boss of a 10 man fire fighting crew. Spent the next three summers traveling the western U.S. fighting forest fires. Winter months spent working various construction jobs.

1979 -1982: Returned to active duty. Assigned as Executive Officer of Marine Air Training Support Ground at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX. Flew both the TA4J and C-131.

1982 – 1984: Student at Taiwan University, studying Chinese language (Mandarin). Made money teaching English and doing film work.

1984 -1988: Simulator Instructor at Naval Air Station, Kingsville, TX. Reserve duty with the Defense Intelligence Agency (China desk).

1988 – 1992: Worked for McDonnell Douglas, Aurora, CO developing jet training courseware for the U.S. Air Force and Kuwait government. Contract wound down, and I was laid off.

1992 – 1994: Entry level security guard at Jazz Alley Casino, Blackhawk, CO. Within 18 months I was promoted to Director of Security.

1994 – 1998: Assistant Manager at Keystone Resort, Summit Valley, CO.

1998 – 2000: Simulator Instructor (T1 aircraft) for the U.S. Air Force at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, OK.

2000 – 2022: Entry level government classroom instructor at Naval Air Station, Kingsville, TX. In 2013 promoted to Director of Academic Training (included simulators and classroom instruction). Retired on 31 Dec 2021.

2022 - 2024: Driving 18 wheelers for Schneider Inc.

2024 - Present: Allied Universal Security Services

Misc: No physical limitations whatsoever. No meds of any kind..not even aspirin.

Airline Transport Pilot rating: Multi-engine land. Commercial Privileges: Airplane single engine land and sea; Glider; CV-240, CV-340, CV-440, DC-3S, DC-4.
Retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1992 as a LtCol. 13 years of active duty and 15 as a reservist.
A small speaking role in the movie “Legend of Billie Jean”.
A lead role in the Taiwan film “Sandwich Man”.

Music I like:

Photos

Forrest Patton