Government shutdown impacting grieving Philomath military family; State stands by ready to assist

Disbelief and concern over the impact of the government shutdown on grieving military families has spurred local and national attention.The family of Pfc. Cody J. Patterson of Philomath, who was one of four soldiers who died of injuries sustained in an attack in Afghanistan last weekend, flew to Dover, Del., on Tuesday to claim their son’s remains.

Cameron Smith, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA), said that so far Patterson’s family has not received the $100,000 death gratuity payment normally sent to relatives of fallen soldiers. “The delayed payments to the families of fallen service members is a very unfortunate and unacceptable consequence of the federal shutdown” Smith said. However, ODVA stands ready to support the family if needed, he said.

The benefit, normally wired to family members of the killed military member within 36 hours of the death, is intended to assist families pay for funeral costs and help with those living expenses normally covered by the soldier’s paycheck.

The Pentagon revealed the elimination of funeral pay, along with other impacts of the shutdown, in a press release.

The Fisher House Foundation, which is dedicated to giving wounded troops and their families a place to stay while they heal, has also said it will pay the full $100,000 per family during the shutdown. Fisher House accepts donations from the general public.

Along with Patterson, the attack killed three other soldiers: Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, 25, assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; 1st Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and Special Agent Joseph M. Peters, 24, assigned to the 286th Military Police Detachment, 5th Military Police Battalion, Vicenza, Italy. Hawkins was from Carlisle, Pa., Moreno was from San Diego, and Peters was from Springfield, Mo.

Patterson, assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning, Ga., graduated from Philomath High School. He enlisted in the Army in January 2012 and completed training as an infantryman, graduating from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program there last November.

Patterson is survived by mother Nancy R. Wilson of Corvallis; father Randy L. Patterson of Philomath; and sister Taylor Patterson, also of Philomath.