Jaffrey sailor recognized for helping save four people at Naval Station Mayport

The rescue took place on July 4, when four people became stuck on jetties at the station amid bad weather and rough seas.

A Jaffrey native serving in the U.S. Navy has received a medal for helping rescue four people stranded at sea, according to a Navy news release issued Wednesday.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kole Patten was presented with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on Sept. 24. The honor was given to him and another Petty Officer 3rd Class, Emmanuel Roberson. Patten was assigned to Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, Fla., where he works as a master-at-arms in the base security department.

The rescue took place on July 4, when four people became stuck on jetties at the station amid bad weather and rough seas. The Navy said Patten’s response helped prevent additional injuries and may have saved lives.

Patten graduated from Conant High School in Jaffrey in 2017 and from George Mason University near Washington, D.C., in 2021. He enlisted in the Navy three years ago. The release said he comes from a military family, with a father who served in the Navy, a brother currently in the Navy and another sibling in the Marine Corps.

In comments included in the release, Patten pointed to his upbringing in Jaffrey as a key influence, saying it taught him to watch out for others and treat people with respect. He also said Navy service has given him a sense of purpose beyond himself, along with discipline, responsibility and the chance to grow through the people and experiences he has encountered.

Naval Station Mayport is described by the Navy as the third largest fleet concentration in the United States. It includes an 8,000-foot runway, 80 commands, 22 ships and three helicopter squadrons.