Private Joseph David Pate: Killed in Action WWII

The Colbert County World War II memorial lists 101 citizens killed during that conflict. Among them was Pvt. Joseph David Pate. The memorial lists this biographical data:

JOSEPH DAVID PATE 34975811 PVT KIA- (TIMES DAILY) PATE, DAVE (U.S. ARMY) 21 DEC 1944 TUSCUMBIA, AL WWII CASUALTY-KIA 10 JAN 1945 (FOOTNOTES) JOSEPH D PATE OCC ATTENDANTS FILLING STATION, WHTIE, GRAMMER SCHOOL, MARRIED, DB 1914 COLBERT CO AL, ED 30 MAR 1944 S#3475811 WHERE FT MCPHERSON ATLANTA GA

Specifically Joseph was killed in Belgium at Elsenborn Ridge during the Battle of the Bulge:

The Elsenborn Ridge is a ridge line east of the town of Elsenborn, Belgium in the Ardennes forest that was the blocking line on the northern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge. Their area was the main line of advance for Hitler's prized 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. However, units of V Corps of the First U.S. 1st Army held the ridge against the elite division, preventing it, and attached forces, from reaching the vast array of supplies near the cities of Liège and Spa, Belgium and the road network west of the Elsenborn Ridge leading to the Meuse River and Antwerp.^[1] This was the only sector of the American front line during the Battle of the Bulge where the Germans failed to advance.^[2]:33

Joseph Pate has family members who still reside in Colbert County. While we're not sure of the specific relationship of many of them, we do know his grandson Daniel Pate is currently a member of the Alabama Air National Guard, having joined after 9/11. We welcome others of Joseph Pate's family to comment this Memorial Day.

Pvt. Joesph David Pate didn't get to come home, not even in a coffin. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star and is buried at Henri Chappelle U.S. Cemetery in Belgium. Tomorrow is Memorial Day; let's remember all who have fallen in service to our country.



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