 After serving as chief of the Legislative Liaison Office of the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C., Patrick returned to Fort Campbell to begin his tenure as the 32nd commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division on June 18, 1985, replacing outgoing Major General James E. Thompson Jr. Patrick held command on December 12, 1985 when 248 soldiers of the 101st Division and 8 air crew members died in a plane crash at Gander, Newfoundland, International Airport, one of the worst accidents in aviation.Serving at Fort Campbell until May 20, 1987, Patrick moved to South Korea to become commanding general of the Combined Field Army between the United States and South Korea.He was also nominated for promotion to lieutenant general.