Birth date: Jan 7, 1962 Death date: Jan 12, 2020
CSM Patrick L. Boykin, 58, resident of Brooker, Florida, died Sunday, January 12, 2020, at his home in a tragic ATV accident. Patrick was born in Beaumont, Texas, and was raised in Houston. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Read Obituary
Patrick was a fun loving, big personality kinda guy! We will be praying hard and sending our love to his awesome wife and family.
Command Sergeant Major Boykin was a phenomenal combat leader role model for Officers, NCOs and Soldiers....I had the distinct honor with serving with him from 2001 to 2003 in the 3-502nd Infantry regiment, 2nd Brigade "Strike", 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) which included deployments to Kosovo, the Joint Readiness Training Center and the Iraq invasion. He was the BEST combat trainer I ever met ... no one could train machine gunners like him, same with executing fire team, squad and platoon drills. He had a great sense of humor too. One of my favorite stories I tell is we had just finished up an intense company-level 10 day 3-502nd field exercise in the Fort Campbell training area, we had executed three days of maintenance and CSM Boykin and I planned a 5 mile run, a safety briefing, and then release the Widowmakers for a 4 day weekend. Now we did have some discipline challenges being so close to Nashville, especially with the single Soldiers living in the Barracks. So we went on our run, and then we had our safety briefing. I preached staying out of trouble, using a buddy team, and no drinking and driving. I also said to the single guys, the best place to meet women are in church, they serve you donuts after the service, and there are a ton of nice looking and future brides available....CSM Boykin was next, and I wasn't too sure where he was going, but he talked about going out with his platoon back in the day, having an ugly contest, and then, keeping this PG 13, he talked about meeting a one-legged woman. The whole battalion was dying with laughter. And the battalion was dismissed. Our training between then and the Iraq invasion intensified, and I have never been in a more trained and competent and confident unit, and CSM Boykin was everywhere .... demanding, positive and always up front. During the invasion, we started out as the supporting effort in our initial battles in An Najef, Baghdad, but by the time Karbala was executed we were the Main Effort. And during every battle, Pat led from the front, whether getting on tanks, riding in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, working with our Tow Company, firing AT-4s and javelins at squad level, calling in for fire, directing our mortars, he was special. And we all know what an avid hunter and fisherman he was, he LOVED being the Scout Platoon and especially the Snipers, who were very well trained mostly because of CSM Boykin. When we finally ended up in Mosul, his high standards and discipline allowed the Widowmakers on the west side of the Tigris excel in a different mode of fighting, Counterinsurgency; plus, he was a catalyst in establishing a great relationship with the Kurds and many Sunni tribal leaders. Most of the Soldiers and Friends I served with and talk to on social media or meet during business travels still to this day state that they have never been in a more highly trained cohesive unit, and CSM Boykin was a HUGE part of that special bond. The Bottom Line is that our Soldiers, NCOs and young Officers looked up to Pat Boykin, emulated him, and many today are top rate Soldiers and Leaders because of him. RIP.
Blessings to the Boykin Family, Widowmakers & the Strike Brigade,
Chris Holden
Widowmaker 6
Strike and Kill!
My dear Patrick, you will always be my hero. Not for any one deed, but for the many. For the man you became and the wisdom you shared in your quiet subtle way. The light you brought into a room and the confidence you shared in all situations.
You are my brother. The one that took my new radio apart out of curiosity to see how it worked, but couldn't quite put it back together again when we were kids. The one that could sleep anywhere, in any position. The one you could always find in the Gulf with fishing pole in hand. Always wearing your shades. A lot of laughter, a lot of dry humor. Always observing and being aware. Wisely speaking. And, for bringing Kristine's light into our lives. I love having another sister. Thank you. I will always be a better person for having you in my life. You are in my heart always and will always be with me.
Love Betsi
