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March 24, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

Cpl. Ron Pate

I was a 2841 in ELMACO with Pate we both were in Radio Relay section, we had not worked together much as I had problem with 1St Sgt. During move from Air Base by Dog Patch to FLC I had helped move Com stuff in Radio Relay to the Plywood Elephant, I think I only had a rack at FLC a couple days. Got to Nam in Nov. burner shitters and TAD to conveys duty as Co. Camder did like my records of M.O.S. from C&E. Batt San Diego a another story! Ronny and I walked to club that night a little late so we stood up leaning on the fence, round eyes on stage were great. Grenade went off Pate and I were knocked to ground when I woke up later, Marines were still leaving so I moved Ron and my self to wall so not to trip any one. All Marines inside club thought the gooks were inside the wire so they were leaving for Defense.

Ronny they say got a piece in the heart , I was wounded from shoulders to ankles. Marines reasonable did not do time. One got a Bad Conduct discharge but because of Drugs. I have never talked about this as of coarse I never received purple heart nor should have I but being in N.S.A. Guam Naval hospital Japan then Great Lakes till June 1970, I seen so many wounded Marines legs arms missing burns Infection as I was on Ward 3 S. great lakes dirty ward. Plus I got to come home early Ronnie stood by me I lived he died. I am going to PTSD meetings now for a year or so. I am telling this for others maybe me some. I now wear Marine Hats, put emblems on my trucks 10 or 15 years ago. I was always proud my being a Marine by volunteering to serve in Corp and Nam. But being stationed at El. Tore from June to Oct. with all the Hippy Dippy spitting outside gate. Last time I was spit on was in Denver Airport by a mother of two children plus not many regular people supported us either

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

Joe Cruff - April 9, 2020

I would love to know if the Marine made it home ok after the fragging at FLC with chest wounds. I stayed with him until corpsman arrived and I never will forget what he said to him. He didn’t ask if he was going to be alright. He said Doc, can I go home now? Semper Fi

Bill Walter - April 9, 2020

Cpl. Pate lives on in your memory and story. Also remember the spit washes off and you have numerous brothers and sisters that love and support you, 24-7, 365. You are a Marine and always will be. We got your 6! Don’t do anything stupid!! Talk to a friend you trust with your life. If you want to talk to a stranger, I would be honored. You can get my e–address from Grit. Cpl. Bill Walter, Hickory,NC

Mark Hite - April 9, 2020

Who submitted the Ron Pate fratricide story?

DANIEL ZAWIEJSKI (SKI) 7TH. MOTOR BATTLION (B CO.) CHU LAI VIETNAM 1966-1967 - April 9, 2020

TO (CPL. RON PATE) ARRIVED IN (EL TORO) FROM NAM 14 MONTHS (STRAIGHT TIME) NEVER ANY (R&R) OR ANYTHING! DIDN’T KNOW A THING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE STATES. I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A DECENT PAIR OF CLOTHES TO WEAR EXCEPT MY KAKI”S. THAT WAS IN MY SEA BAG FOR MONTHS. GETTING ALLREADY TO GO HOME AND SURPRISE MY FOLK”S THAT I AM STILL ALIVE!. I WAS ONLY (3) OUT OF THE (96) MARINE’S THAT I WENT OVER WITH TO NAM THAT CAME BACK IN ONE PIECE! WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE CIVILIAN’S AT THE GATE PROTESTING (EL TORO) ABOUT (BABY KILLER’S ETC.) WHAT THE HELL! WAS GOING ON? AND THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE IN A CAB (6 OR MORE IN CASE WE WERE ATTACKED) AND STAY CLOSE TILL WE GOT TO THE AIRPORT THEN YOU WERE ON YOUR OWN. ON LEAVE I DIDN’T EVEN WEAR MY UNIFORM IN PUBLIC CAUSE OF GETTING JUMPIED BY PROTESTER’S. I ALLWAY’S CARRIED A KNIFE JUST IN CASE. THE WORSE PLACE TO GO WAS A (BAR). FROM THAT DAY ON (I NEVER FORGIVED) THE PEOPLE OF THE (UNITED STATES) WHAT THEY DID TO US COMING HOME FROM NAM. FOR AT LEAST (10) YEAR’S AFTER I CAME HOME FROM NAM I NEVER SAID A THING ABOUT BEING IN (VIET NAM) ONLY TO MY FAMILY. SO TO THIS DAY I (WEAR) EVERYTHING I CAN THAT SAY’S UNITED STATE’S MARINE’S) FROM MY HAT’S TO MY JEEP! AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT JUST COME SEE ME YOU (NON PATRIOT AMERICAN’S) THAT DOSEN’T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT (FREEDOM) AND CAN’T EVEN SPELL THE WORD! BUT BOY THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO LIVE IT UP IN AMERICA BEING (FREE) AND COULD CARE LESS WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.AND (AMERICA) JUST LIKE (JFK) SAID (SAY NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU! BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY!) EVERY TIME SOME ONE COME’S UP TO ME AND SAY’S (THANK’S FOR SERVING OR YOUR SERVICE) AND SHAKE’S MY HAND. I REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW TO ACCEPT THAT? WHERE WERE YOU IN (1967)? SO LET IT BE KNOWN THE MARINE CORP’S LIVES ON (SEMPER FI) SKI

Jim McIntyre - April 9, 2020

I served with ELMACO until late January of 1970 when I left Red Beach by for the World. Our ship was the first marine segment in Phase II of the Vietnam withdrawl. The major unit on board was the 3rd Amtrack Battalion. Our detail flew from DaNang to Okinawa to pull the stored uniforms and personal items of the marines on board. Before we boarded the ship in Okinawa for the long trip to Del Mar harbor and Pendleton, we heard a rumor of a “fragging” at Red Beach and could not believe that Americans would kill Americans! I guess political correctness over ruled justice. I remember Ron Pate as a quiet and unassuming marine. A sad moment in the history of the Corps. SGT Jim McIntyre

Ron Hearns pfc 1/1 USMC - April 9, 2020

Oohrah! Semper Fi, Marine!! Welcome Home!!

Bill Ashworth - April 9, 2020

I have not got a story because when I send in one I am told they don’t have any record of the story’s that I have sent in

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