George Washington Pate

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 427909

Born

July 13, 1923
in Buhl, AL

Parents

Luther Stansel Pate, Sr.
Sallie Amanda (Brown) Pate

School

Details unknown

Pre-War Employment

Farmer

Entered Service

August 18, 1942
at Birmingham, AL

Joined First Battalion

December 31, 1942
from HQ Battalion, New River

Left First Battalion

February 1, 1944
Killed in action at Namur

Left Service

February 1, 1944
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

Rural Route 1, Buhl, AL – address of father, Mr. Luther Pate

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Enlisted in US Army at Montgomery, Alabama, on 23 July 1940. Received honorable discharge “after a short period of service” (most likely as underage).

Boot camp at Training Center New River with Fifth Separate Recruit Battalion. Outposted to First Telephone Company, Signal School, New River. Transferred to Headquarters Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 31 December 1942.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: HQ/1/24th Marines (Communications platoon)
Rank: PFC
MOS: 641 (Telephone Lineman)
Important Events:
February 1, 1944 – killed in action at Namur (gunshot, neck); exact circumstances unknown.

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Namur (Feb. 1, 1944)

Citation

Service Stories

Please share a story if you knew this Marine.

Many buddies whom I knew well were wounded or killed on Namur. [Pate and I] had done bread and water brig time together. He had more time remaining than I did when we were released to board ship and go into combat. I was a prisoner at large, but my buddy was assigned to the ship laundry to complete his time. I can't forget his statement: "I ain't goin' to wash them Goddamn Officer's dirty skivvies."

He was put in the ship brig and released only to hit the beach. He was killed rescuing a wounded buddy under fire. Only a posthumous Purple Heart.