At the end of each year Olive Drab Journal honors members from our community whose actions exemplify the quintessential traits of the warrior, the leader, and the shepherd. This recognition does not come lightly. We look inward amongst our community to identify those brilliant men and women whose leadership and mentorship have been inspirational.

Patrick Larsen joined One Shepherd during its very first year of existence in 1981. As an active participant in simulations, Patrick planned and led patrols at just 16 years of age. He completed his studies at West Platte High School in spring of 1984 and enlisted in the US Army later that fall.

Patrick entered service as an infantryman. He attended Basic Training, Airborne School, and the School of the Infantry at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was then assigned to the 2nd Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), and later the 3rd Battalion 504 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He continued training as a mortar crew chief and infantry scout. Patrick attended a special weapons demolition course, the Winter Warfare School, and the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course. Patrick was also awarded the coveted Expert Infantry Badge.

During his three years of service Patrick was promoted as a Non-Commissioned Officer. He deployed twice to Honduras and once to Puerto Rico, and also served in Egypt and Israel as part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force stationed in the Sinai Peninsula.

Honorably discharged from the Army in 1987, Patrick sought a career as a carpenter and began work in mid-Kansas building highway bridges.

By the mid-1990s Patrick returned to his hometown of Weston, Missouri and worked as a carpenter for a local cabinet shop. By then One Shepherd had reconstituted itself as a training entity. Patrick joined the One Shepherd community once again, maintaining the unit arms room and running OPFOR patrols in MILSIM scenarios for several years.

In 2007 Patrick volunteered as One Shepherd’s S4 Logistician while our community transitioned to commercial operations. He became intricately involved with the newly dubbed Student Leadership Program, and accepted assignments as a platform instructor where he continues to serve.

Over the past quarter century, Patrick has served his nation on a global scale and at the community level. His contribution to the development of America’s young leaders is both notable and selfless. For his dedicated service we recognize Patrick as a Warrior Shepherd and welcome him as One Shepherd honored alumni.

Warrior-Shepherds pave a path of success through commitment to local, national, and global communities. Warrior-Shepherds set the bar high and challenged all who follow. In honoring them, we must find our own path on the journey to becoming a Warrior-Shepherd.