Eugene Patrick Flannery was known by ‘Gene’ to some, but ‘Pat’ to most, owing to his birthday on Saint Patrick’s Day. Pat was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ. He later graduated from Xavier High School in nearby New York City, where he ran both track and cross country. Pat also distinguished himself academically at Xavier, receiving numerous scholastic awards.

His high school participation in Army Junior ROTC, among other things, spawned a strong desire to attend West Point, and he later received an appointment from Senator Harrison A. Williams.

During his four years at West Point, Pat ran cross country and was active in many clubs and activities, including the Honor Committee during Second and First Class years. He also made many lifelong friends while there, including Gene Reese, John Denton, Chuck DePew, and others.

During his graduation leave, Pat and several of his classmates went to Palo Alto, CA to participate in Chuck DePew’s wedding. There he met one of the bridesmaids, Mikel Ann, who would later become his wife. Following graduation leave, Pat first completed Ranger School and then Airborne School. This was followed by completion of the Artillery Officer Basic Course.

At this time, Pat noted that President Kennedy had taken a special interest in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Pat later volunteered for and then joined this elite group. As part of the cross training of “A” team members, Pat enjoyed his familiarization and training in basic medical procedures. This early exposure eventually led to his decision to become an Army physician.

In conjunction with Special Forces, Pat was assigned to the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, where he received training in the Arabic language. His fellow students included West Point classmates Bill Bailey and James ‘Nick’ Rowe. While at the language school, Pat concurrently enrolled in premedical college courses in order to fulfill prerequisite admission requirements. He was then accepted at New Jersey School of Medicine, which he attended on the “excess leave” program. After his first year of medical school, Pat and Mikel Ann were married in the Catholic Chapel at West Point.

After medical school graduation, Pat was assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. There, he completed a rotating internship and a residency in internal medicine while serving as chief resident. Pat was subsequently assigned to Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, CA, where he completed fellowship training in hematology and oncology. Pat and Mikel Ann both immensely enjoyed this time, as it represented her return to the West Coast.

Meanwhile, the Flannery family was growing, and it further grew to eventually include six active and wonderful children: Patrick, Kady, James, Peter, Molly, and Kerryanne. Pat was very content working in the hematology and oncology clinic at Letterman, but before too long he and the family were transferred back to Walter Reed, where he then served as the assistant chief of medicine.

After a time, he was then transferred back to Letterman, where he was appointed as Chief of Medicine. Mikel Ann often spoke fondly of this period, when the family of eight enjoyed living in the pre-1906 earthquake large brick quarters on post. A natural teacher, Pat thrived while mentoring interns, residents, and junior staff, and they, too, loved working for Pat. He also authored numerous articles in the medical literature, and he frequently participated in national hematology and oncology conferences.

Anyone who knew Pat also knew that he was an avid sports fan. Because of his East and West Coast assignments, he rooted for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. He still closely followed the exploits of his favorite boyhood baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, and he also kept tabs on the San Francisco Giants and the Baltimore Orioles.

After completing 20 years in the military, Pat retired from the Army as a full colonel. He, Mikel Ann, and the six children moved back to the East Coast, where he joined an internal medicine practice in Olney, MD. Pat had previously served with several of the members of this practice when they were stationed at Walter Reed. As a result, the practice was referred to by other local physicians in the area as the “Army group.” While working as a civilian physician, Pat also served as a consultant in hematology and oncology at Walter Reed, and he greatly enjoyed his time there teaching and mentoring medical trainees and junior staff.

Pat unexpectedly died from a heart attack on May 7, 1984. Because of the tremendous respect and admiration that the medical staffs at Walter Reed and Letterman had for Pat, an annual award was established in his honor. The Eugene P. Flannery Award was created to recognize the most outstanding internist at each of these two military hospitals in alternate years.

Despite the many honors and accolades earned by Pat during his distinguished career, he was most proud of his own family. Pat was many things, among them a good husband, a dedicated soldier, and a skilled physician, but he is most remembered by his children as a loving father. His exemplary military career obviously influenced other family members as well. Pat’s brother, Frank, also served a full career as an Army physician. Pat’s nephew, James Schleck, who is the son of Pat’s sister, Marybeth, later graduated from West Point in 1991. One of his grandsons is being recruited to West Point for baseball (Class of 2021). Others may follow.

Pat is interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

— COL Frank Flannery Retired, MD