Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1968 Lucky Bag:

DWIGHT SCOTT PATTEE

Scott, hailing from Holladay, Utah, came to USNA direct from high school. Plebe year, although being quite demanding, did not keep him from doing well in the academic departments. Through four years at Navy Scott has maintained a good Q.P.R. Being from the Rocky Mountain area, Scott is a great proponent of skiing. He was always ready to discuss the many outstanding points of that sport and jumped at every opportunity to spend a day or two on the slopes. Scott hopes to enter the NFO Program after graduation. Naval aviation will gain a very able and competent officer.

Loss

Dwight was lost when USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) collided with HMAS Melbourne (R21) on June 3, 1969. Seventy-three others were killed when the destroyer was cut in two by the carrier.

Other Information

From the September-October 1969 issue of Shipmate:

Ens. Dwight S. Pattee, USN, died 3 June in the South China Sea as a result of the collision of the USS FRANK E. EVANS and the Australian carrier, HMAS MELBOURNE. Memorial services were held in Salt Lake City.

Ens. Pattee was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and was a member of the Eleventh Company before he was graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1968. Upon graduation, he reported to the FRANK E. EVANS, operating with Commander Anti-Submarine Group One in the Asiatic area.

He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Dwight G. Pattee of Holladay, Utah.

Dwight has a memorial marker at the Wasatch Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, UT. Classmate H. Keith Haines II pushed for Dwight to receive recognition at the Utah State Vietnam Veterans Memorial¹.

Remembrances

From USS Frank E. Evans Association on July 27, 2014:

Today’s birthday belongs to LTJG Dwight Scott Pattee. Dwight was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dwight Gipson and Vella Mae Pattee. He had two siblings, a brother, Brad, and sister, Terri (Tyree). He was a graduate of Olympus High School and entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, 30 June 1964 and graduated 5 June 1968.

Dwight wanted to fly airplanes, but his vision had deteriorated slightly while at the Academy, so he aspired to be an NFO (Naval Flight Officer) as a navigator. However, in 1968 very few billets were available for each class and selection was by class standing. When his time rolled around, all the NFO slots were taken.

ENS Dwight Pattee reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS DD754 ON 4 October 1968 where he was promoted to LTJG. He was the Gunnery Officer and stood watch in CIC where he had just finished the 2000 to 2400 watch. He was sleeping in the Forward Officer’s Quarters just forward of the mess decks on the starboard side. The ladder to the main deck, just outside the door to his and three other officers’ quarters, broke loose and jammed the door shut.

LTJG Dwight Scott Pattee was born this day in 1946 and would have been 23 years old. Had he survived he would be 68 years old today.

RIP in the arms of the Lord, Dwight. Your family, friends and shipmates still love and miss you.

Other

On March 5, 1967 The Salt Lake Tribune carried a piece about the Pattee family, describing Dwight’s parents’ lives while his father served in the Air Force reserve. Dwight’s father, Major Dwight Gipson Pattee, was a member of the 945th MAG Air Force Reserve at Hill Air Force Base, UT.

Related Articles

Gary Hirsch ‘68 was also in 11th Company.

References