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The Last CO of Whitehurst, Captain Peter V.      Patterson   USNR Ret. Now  Maintenance and   Operations Officer, Steamer Portland Peter V. Patterson Capt. USNR Ret. The Portland Captain Patterson, who was the last Commanding Officer of USS Whitehurst DE-634 (68-69) is now Maintenance and Operations Officer of the Steamer Portland. He was born in Portland, the fourth generation of a seafaring family. Patterson enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1951 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1955. During his naval service, Patterson served as a Surface Warfare Officer and commanded the destroyer escorts USS McGinty and USS Whitehurst; was prospective commanding officer of the destroyers USS Brush and USS Braine, and was Chief of Staff to Desron in Seattle. He commanded reserve units in Portland, Seattle and as Commanding Officer of Military Sealift Command Headquarters, Washington D.C. After 32 years of service, he retired as Captain USNR 1985. Patterson's civilian career involved world wide work as an engineering geologist supporting civil works of engineering for the Corps of Engineers, Forest Service and Resource Conser- vation Service. He is a licensed Engineering Geologist in Oregon and California. He retired as Chief Engineering Geologist for the Dept. of Agriculture in 1992 and, until 2007, worked as an independent consulting engineering geologist in the Pacific Northwest, Pakistan, and Siberian Russia. The Captain holds US Coast Guard Unlimited, Oceans, Third Officer, Unlimited First Class Pilot Columbia River Entrance to Portland licenses. In 2004 he joined the volunteer crew of the Steamer Portland and started at the bottom chipping and painting the fire room bilges, preparing the vessel for passenger operation. From there he graduated to the repair of the stern wheel and to the installation of new main bearings. In 2006 Patterson assumed responsibilities of the operation and maintenance of the Steamer and continues in that position on the 60 year old Portland, the last operating steam tow boat in the United States Return CO Page Home Page Click here: Navy Log Entryl

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