William J. Pattison

William J. Pattison (1921–1943) was a United States Navy sailor killed in action during World War II who received a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions.

William Joseph Pattison was born at Long Island City in Queens, New York on 15 January 1921. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 23 August 1939 at Indianapolis, Indiana. A conscientious sailor, Pattison advanced steadily in rating and, at least once, was meritoriously promoted. By the beginning of 1943, he had reached the rank of signalman third class and was serving in the destroyer USS Eberle (DD-430) in the South Atlantic Ocean.

On 10 March 1943, Eberle encountered the German blockade runner Karin, which was flying the Dutch flag. The task group commander, Rear Admiral O. M. Read, ordered Eberle to ignore Karin's Allied flag and board her.

Pattison was one of the 14 men chosen from Eberle's complement to board Karin before Karin's crew could scuttle her and was the second American to reach Karin's deck. In spite of rising flames and explosions, Pattison performed his salvage duties, primarily by maintaining contact with Eberle while his colleagues searched for demolition charges. While executing his duty, Pattison was killed by the explosion of one of the German demolition charges.

For his ". . . exemplary conduct and heroic devotion to duty . . .," Signalman Third Class Pattison was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS William J. Pattison (DE-594) was named for Signalman Third Class Pattison. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport USS William J. Pattison (APD-104), and was in commission as such from 1945 to `1946.