Albert Anthony Pate
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Albert Anthony Pate |
Albert and Lorinda Pate |
Albert and Lorinda Pate |
Albert Anthony Pate
Whether he was fighting off advancing German soldiers in World War II, playing a hand of blackjack, charming the ladies or caring for his family, Albert Anthony Pate was strong minded and fearless.
"He always lived his life his own way, regardless of what anyone told him he should or shouldn't do." said Lorinda Pate, his daughter. Albert Pate lived in San Marcos California for nearly 30 years and died at age 81 in December of 2006.
"He was a good man, he was honest, and he was open to anything that you had to say." said Steve Pantoja, the chaplain at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3795 in San Marcos of which Albert was a longtime member. "we need more men like him."
Early on in his life, Pate was recognized internationally for his determination and heroism.
As a paratrooper and rifleman with the U.S. Army's 551st Airborne Division during World War II, he fought in campaigns against Axis forces in Rome, SOuthern France, Central Europe, the Rhineland, Germany, Ardennes, Belgium, and elsewhere.
For his involvement in key attacks and seizures of heavily fortified German positions, he was awarded a Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism, the Belgian Four Agerie medal, a couple of service ribbons, and a conduct medal.
"These heroic things are what shaped him." Lorinda Pate said, adding that her father was very humble about the many honors bestowed upon him and his time in the service.
In many ways, the war was one of his many lifetime adventures. "He had wonderful stories...he lived an exciting and colorful life." she said.
After the war, Pate began his career as a contractor and left his small hometown in West Virginia, with several family members in tow, for the West Coast. There he bounced around between cities, and even spent a year working in Hawaii --- before it became a state.
Pate eventually settled in San Marcos, after taking a job building housing at Camp Pendeleton, and found an extended family and many friends in the local veteranspost.
There he would share war stories and memories with other World War II veterans, counsel friends and keep everybody laughing andhaving a good time, friends said.
"I know people are going to miss him around here because he was one of the fixtures that everyone would look up to." Pantoja said. "Everyone is going to miss him."
written by Shayna Chabner, Staff Writer, North County Times 12/22/2006 and submitted by Lorinda Pate
