Joseph Heste Patterson (August 15, 1912 – May 23, 1939) was an American naval officer who also competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He went by "Pat" Patterson while in the Navy.
Patterson lost his life aboard the Squalus on May 23, 1939 when the main induction valve failed to close off the Isles of Shoals. This caused the aft torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crew's quarters to be flooded. He was one of 26 men to drown immediately, and the only officer to die in the accident. The rest of the surviving crew was rescued by the USS Falcon led by Lieutenant CommanderCharles "Swede" Momsen and the Squalus was refloated where Patterson and his dead crewmates were recovered.
Maas, Peter (1999). The Terrible Hours: The man behind the greatest submarine rescue in history. New York: HarperTouch. pp. 15–16.
Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Track & Field (Men): 400-Meter Hurdles". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 163.