Patrick Hunt Drury, USNA ’11 

 

Lieutenant Junior Grade Patrick Drury, USN, was killed in a traffic collision on 16 June 2013 in York, AL. He was nearing completion of flight training in the T-45 while assigned to VT-9 in Meridian, MS. He and six other USNA graduates spent Friday night in Tuscaloosa, AL. Five of them left early Sunday morning to return to Meridian, a 90 minute trip. At 0355, their vehicle drifted onto the shoulder and collided with a parked truck, shearing off the right side of the car. Patrick was asleep in the right rear seat. Also killed was LTJG Kyle McArthur ’11. LTJG Brian Goss ’10 suffered a broken ankle. LTJG Blaine Lander ’11 and LTJG Kyle Webber ’11, the driver, suffered minor injuries. Alcohol was not a factor. 

 

Patrick was raised in Alexandria, VA, attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Bishop Ireton High School, where he played football and was the class salutatorian. After one year at Virginia Tech, he entered the Naval Academy with the Class of 2011. He was a member of 25th Company. 

 

Patrick was a voracious reader with broad interests. He viewed life as a team sport, not an individual competition. His formula for success was: be prepared, view every job as fun, and treat everyone as an important member of the team. He demonstrated exceptional spatial awareness and coordination, and excelled as an aviator. Major Jimmy Forbes, VT-9’s senior Marine, considered him one of the three best student aviators he’d ever observed. Commander Charles Paquin, XO of the squadron, agreed, adding that Patrick was also one of the most promising junior officers he ever encountered. Patrick’s cheerful optimism and energy inspired teamwork and cooperation. He was awarded his Wings posthumously.  

 

Patrick did the right thing even when no one was watching. He touched more lives in 25 years than most people do in a lifetime. He lived fearlessly, loved every one of his 1133 friends on Facebook and brought out the best in us all. He set the highest standards for his own professional performance, cheerfully assisted others, inspired teamwork and always placed the needs of others ahead of his own. He is survived by parents, Chip, USNA ’68, and Lois; and sisters, Allison and Heather. 

 

A funeral Mass was held in the Naval Academy Chapel on 24 September 2013, with interment following at Arlington Cemetery. 

 

Please consider donating in his memory to: www.fallenheroesfund.org; www.woundedwarriorregiment.org; www.bishopireton.org (for the Patrick Drury Memorial Fund), or www.woundedwarriorproject.org. 

 

The Drury Family