Patrick F. Roche

Memorial Location

COLUMN:   ROW: 54

  • Major, Judge Advocate
  • 4/18/1968 – 4/17/1972;  3/17/1981 – 9/30/1993
  • Vietnam
  • Rifle Expert Badge; Pistol Expert Badge (2nd award); Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (w/2 stars); Commendation Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation (w/2 stars); Navy Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal (w/1 star); Vietnam Campaign w/ 1 star; Vietnam Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/ device); Meritorious Service Medal.

Major Patrick F. Roche, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), was born on October 5, 1949, in Evanston, Illinois. On April 18, 1968, Major Roche enlisted in the Marine Corps for a period of four years. After completing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), San Diego, California, he served as an “Anti-Air Warfare Battery Man” with the Second Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina, the First Marine Air Wing at Wakayama, Japan and the Republic of South Vietnam, and the Third Marine Air Wing at Yuma, Arizona. Major Roche was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp with the rank of Corporal on April 17, 1972.
After graduating from Mary Washington College in May of 1976, Major Roche served as an officer candidate in the Marine Corps Officer Candidate Course at Quantico, Virginia where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on July 1, 1976. After completing the Basic Officers School and The Communications Officers School, he reported to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, where he served with the Second Force Troops and the Second Marine Division from July 1977 until August 1981. Major Roche was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 1, 1978.
In August 1981, Major Roche received orders to attend the School of Law, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was promoted to Captain on October 1, 1981. After graduating from law school in May of 1984 and passing the North Carolina Bar Exam, Major Roche attended the Lawyers Course at the Naval School in Newport, Rhode Island. Following his completion of this instruction, he was designated a Marine Corps Judge Advocate and reassigned to Camp Lejeune where he served from November 1984 to July 1989. He was promoted to Major on October 1, 1988.
In Juily 1989, Major Roche reported to MCRD, San Diego, California where he performed the duties of a judge Advocate until September 1, 1993, at which time he was honorably retired from the Marine Corps following the completion of 21 years and four months of active service.
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Major Roche practiced law in Florida and West Virginia. He currently resides in Presque Isle, Wisconsin.