Purple Heart winner achieved even more in Bucks County.

By Tim Chicirda, BucksLocalNews.com

Robert Patrick is not originally from Bristol Borough. In fact, he has only been a resident on Radcliffe Street for just over a decade, but Bob has completed a lifetime of service to the small Bucks County town.

Patrick's life journey began on South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was born under the 81-foot electric “Star of Bethlehem” to Stanley and Agatha Patrick.

Bob went on to attend Hellertown High School (now Saucon Valley High School), just outside of Bethlehem in Hellertown, Pa.

Here, Bob took on numerous activities, including wrestling and announcing football games as a member of the AV Club. Bob also played drums in a band called “Magic.”

During Bob's junior year of high school, he joined the Navy Reserve, attending Hospital Corpsman School in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Bob became a flight deck corpsman with the United States Marines. Specifically, Bob's title was Hospital Corpsman II Robert Patrick.

A Hospital Corpsman is someone who serves as an enlisted medical specialist. They perform duties as assistants to prevent and treat disease and injury. They also assist health care professionals, providing medical care to Marines and their families.

In Bob's case, a flight deck Hospital Corpsman would help with emergency medical treatment, including initial treatment in a combat environment.

For Bob's noble efforts with the Marine Corps, he was awarded a Purple Heart, which according to the order given from the U.S. Government is for one who “has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen.”

Bob left the Marine Corps in 1971. After jumping back and forth from various jobs, Bob was hired by Aramark in 1974. Aramark Limited has a plethora of different specialties, including being a food, facilities, and clothing provider. They help supply businesses, courts, educational institutions, the armed forces and health care providers. The health care aspect of Aramark is where Bob focused his time, until he was laid off in 1995.

This is when Bob moved to Bristol Borough, according to him, “through the blessing of God,” amidst a very tough financial situation.

While dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bob still had the presence of mind to start a wonderful non-profit organization called Operation Pay It Forward, which is owned and operated by Patrick, who is a Service Disabled Vietnam Veteran. He is a cash flow specialist broker, an alternative to banks, working with doctors, group practices and medical equipment suppliers.

“Bob has done great service in the area with his concern for homeless veterans,” says Bucks County Director of Veterans Affairs and Marine Corps vet Daniel H. Fraley.

Bob humbly adds: “That which we make important, we make happen.”

And, his charitable work does not end there, as Bob is a vital part of the Bristol Borough Community Partnership (BBCP), a local organization that organizes community events in Bristol.
Bob was instrumental in the “Oral History Project” in Bristol Borough, which helps youngsters grasp their roots through stories told from the elder neighbors.

“Bob is invaluable. He is constantly helpful and sharing with his time and ideas ... Bob has helped advance the mission of the partnership,” said Loretta M. Vasso, Community Mobilizer for the BBCP.

And, there's more. Patrick devotes even more of his time to the area, working with the Borough's “Home Again” initiative, which helps find a “way home” to homeless people in Bristol Borough.
Bob is also a member of the VFW, American Legion, DAV, Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Bristol Borough Revitalization Task Force (RTF).

In 2009, Bristol High School student Samantha Kasperitis took part in the “Adopt-A-Marine” program. Kasperitis said at the time: “He is an intelligent man with great ideas.”

But, Bob is not only full of great ideas, but great passion and drive for his community, as he took his prestigious military career and spawned it into a grand life of charity in Bristol Borough and Bucks County.

Cate Murway contributed to this article.