U.S. Army Col. Patrick H. Downing (Ret.) of Mobile received the Master Combat Infantryman Badge from the U.S. Army.
The Vietnam veteran served as a medic with Special Forces, completed combat deployments and became an advanced medical training school instructor. He completed Officer Candidate School and was a platoon leader and company commander.
While he had multiple near-death experiences while in Vietnam, Downing returned as an Army Ranger School instructor at Fort Benning. After a successful military career, Downing retired in 1996 and then worked for the University of South Alabama for 20 years.
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Back at home in Mobile, Downing has served on the Alabama Board of Veterans Affairs, the South Alabama Veterans Council, the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Commission and the Battleship Commission.
The Master Combat Infantryman Badge is the latest in Downing’s accomplishments. He previously received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Medical Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Pathfinder Badge, the Special Forces Tab and others.
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