Who is Patrick Bieneman

Posted on June 26, 2010

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Who am I? My name is Patrick Bieneman. I was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 11, 1947. I was  the fourth of seven children. We move out to the country when I was almost 4. We lived in a small area known as Silve Lake, Illinois. I graduated from Cary Grove Community high school in 1966 after having quit for a year.  I was drafted into the Army on January 4, 1967. I went to Vietnam in April of 1968 and went home in April of 69. I met and married my loving wife , Carol , while we were both serving at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. We adopted our son Jason when he was 9 months old. Over a period of 21 years, I served 18 1/2 years in the Army and was medically retired due to injuries I received while in Vietnam. I went to work at the VA hospital in Lexington, Kentucky as an out-patient clerk working with veterans from WWI to Desert Storm. I retired from the Army in 1988 and from the VA in 1997.

I belonged to the “Bullwhip Squadron Association” I served in Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The Bullwhip Squadron Association is made up of Headquarters, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Troops of the 9th Cavalry Regiment.  It is my honor to belong to this organization. I also belong to the 1st Cavalry Division Association. 

Like many of the men and women who served in combat I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I attended PTSD classes at the Lexington, Kentucky VA hospital for almost 6 1/2 years. They were a terrific help. My wife would drive me to the VA to make most of my appointments and on the way home we would go over what I had learned that day. This way she could help me when certain problems arose.

The one thing that helped me the most with my PTSD was attending the Charlie Troop 1/9th Cavalry reunion that Carol and I organized from 2015 to 2023. I recommend any former Trooper who has problems with PTSD to seek mental health and to attend reunion with your former comrades.  Before I going into everything, I will add a story from Edd Hogeboom. Edd had given his permission to add this story to my blog (www.patrickbieneman.com). Edd has passed away but I know he would approve of me adding it to my book. Through his story, I want to show the true comradery and love each Charlie Trooper had for his Brothers. 

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