[1] With the US intervention in World War I Patrick joined the 14th Machine Gun Battalion of the 5th Division and fought in France with the American Expeditionary Forces in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.

[2] During the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 Patrick was inspecting troops near Mount Mataba, south of Montalban, east of Manila on March 14.

A Japanese soldier, who had remained in hiding behind American lines, opened fire from 75 yd (69 m) with a machine gun, mortally wounding Patrick,[3][4] who died the next day.

Edwin Patrick was one of only three American division commanders to die in combat action in World War II.

A Navy transport ship, USNS General Edwin D. Patrick (T-AP-124), was named in his honor.