A Tennessee family pays tribute to a man killed while serving his country.
      
34 year old Alan Patterson was a career Navy-man.  He was a father, husband, brother, and son.
     
Dr. Phillip Patterson proudly displays pictures of his six children.
 
His son Alan figures prominently.  He was the first of three of his sons to attend a U.S. military academy.
  
Alan knew in the sixth grade he wanted to join the Navy.

"He wanted to go to the Naval Academy and he wanted to fly Navy.  He had stickers on his school books - Fly Navy," says Dr. Phillip Patterson.

On Monday, Lt. Commander Alan Patterson was the instructor onboard a E/A-6B Prowler aircraft when it crashed during a training mission 50 miles west of Spokane, Washington.

"And he loved what he did, and he was always very very proud of what he did," says brother Craig Patterson.

Younger brother Craig says he looked up to Alan. They both attended The Webb School and played lacrosse.
   
Craig even followed in Alan's naval footsteps. The brothers were deployed on the USS Roosevelt together. It's an experience Craig treasures.

"No one else in the family gets to have that experience with him. We lived three doors down from each other on the carrier," says Craig Patterson.

Alan Patterson leaves behind a wife and two daughters, ages 13 and 10 months. Alan's older brother says he'll make sure they're taken care of.

"I wish I could bring him back, but I'll do whatever I can in my power to make sure that his wife and his daughters are well cared for," says brother Phillip Patterson Jr.

The Pattersons now gather together. They are remembering a man who served his country and loved his family.

"It's the glue that kind of holds you together. It would not be easy to be alone," says Dr. Phillip Patterson.

Funeral arrangements for Alan Patterson are not complete, but a service will be held next week at the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island in Washington state.

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