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WEST POINT SOCIETY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Citation
West Point Society of
the District of Columbia
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Gerald Wardell, US Army (Ret)
A 2007 West Point Society of the District of Columbia Distinguished Member Award is presented to Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Gerald Wardell, Class of January 1943, for his outstanding service to his country, the U.S. Army, the Class of January, 1943 and his community. Patrick Wardell’s father retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army after 42 years of service and served as his role model. Inspired to enter West Point, Patrick enlisted in the Army in 1937 and won a senatorial appointment to the Academy, entering in 1939. He served in the 3rd and 7th Armies as an anti-aircraft officer in World War II. He earned an MSME degree at USC in 1950. Thereafter, he served mainly in Army research and development activities. He was awarded two Army Commendation Medals and a Certificate of Achievement for his exceptional service, and retired from active duty after 24 years of service in 1965. From 1965 to 1967, he worked at The Boeing Company as an engineer on the Saturn V Landing Launch Vehicle. From 1967 to 1981, he was employed as an engineer by AMF, Inc. He then devoted his full time to genealogy. Twenty-eight of his books have been published on the subject, including two on West Point applications from 1804 to 1866. He taught genealogy for the Fairfax County Adult Community Education program for 14 years, and was presented an ACE Instructor Service Award for his community service. He has been devoted to his church for his entire life, and has been for many years a Lay Eucharistic Minister at his local Catholic church. He is one of three men who are honorary members of Nellie’s Needlers, a charitable organization that supports Woodlawn Plantation. His deceased wife was a charter member of that organization and he continues to donate much of his time to assist them. He has served his classmates since 1990 as Class Secretary, and since 2001 as Class Scribe. He maintains a personnel file on living and deceased classmates and their families. Throughout his life Pat Wardell has exemplified :Duty, Honor, Country” by example. He has always responded to any request for assistance in an affirmative way. He is an outstanding graduate and a Distinguished Member of the West Point Society of the District of Colombia.
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