George Washington Pate
NAME: George Washington Pate | NICKNAME: — | SERVICE NUMBER: 427909 | |||||
HOME OF RECORD: Route 1, Buhl, AL | NEXT OF KIN: Father, Mr. Luther S Pate | ||||||
DATE OF BIRTH: 7/13/1923 | SERVICE DATES: 8/18/1942 – 2/1/1944 | DATE OF DEATH: 2/1/1944 | |||||
CAMPAIGN | UNIT | MOS | RATE | RESULT | |||
Roi-Namur | HQ/1/24 | 641 | PFC | KIA | |||
INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS: Purple Heart | LAST KNOWN RANK: Private First Class |
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.
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.
Dwyer Duncan
HQ/1/24th Marines