Sergeant First Class Patnaude was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Force. In Korea, he was a platoon sergeant with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He died of other causes on 16 February 1951 in the Chipyong Area of South Korea.

Sergeant First Class Patnaude was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.