John Cullen Tate

The database page for John Cullen Tate

25 Jun 2002 For every thing there is an appointed time; And there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. A time to laugh, a time to weep; A time for peace, and a time for war. A time to be born and a time to die ... Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 REMEMBERED by the men of the 11th Engineer Battalion From a comrade-in-arms, John J Huhn johnjhuhn@11thengineervietnamvetsusmc.org

26 June 2002 I knew John's parents when they were alive. He died before I was born, and while I am not a relative by blood, the memories that his parents shared with me many years ago as I was preparing for a trip to visit the Wall in D.C. made him real for me. John's parents have been dead for some time now. I unfortunately do not have any photos of John. I know that he had cousins who were alive in 1985, but I don't know what their names are. I would be very interested in exchanging emails with anyone who has memories of John and would like to share them. Richard McMichael, especially, please remember that I am here whenever you would like to email me. Ann Washburn lannwashburn@hotmail.com

10 October 2002 "I was HM3 John Cullen Tate's Platoon Leader. "As a Hospital Corpsman, John Cullen Tate had a standard to meet. The Marines he served with expected him to be singularly fearless, able to ignore battles in progress to be in constant attendance of those who were wounded. A short delay because of fear could mean death to an injured man. The men needed to know they could count on their Corpsman. John C. Tate was one of those Corpsmen you never had to worry about, he was always there when you needed him, he never, not one time, failed to do his duty. "John was mortally wounded by a rocket while giving assistance to a Marine at the forward position of Con Thien." Taken from John Murdock's complete memorial to Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John C. Tate Semper Fi John Murdock B Company 11th Engineer Bn. 3rd Marine Div. FMF South Vietnam johnmurdock@murdockcentral.com

08 May 2004 John C. Tate, War Victim - Funeral arrangements for John C. Tate, 19, Navy hospital corpsman, 3rd class, are being made at the Bonney-Watson Northgate Chapel. Tate, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cullen D. Tate, 108 N.E. 55th Street, died Wednesday in a hospital at Da Nang from wounds suffered Monday from enemy mortar fire in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. Tate had been in Vietnam since December. He was stationed at the Marine Command Post, Dong Ha. Born in Seattle, Tate graduated in 1965 from Lincoln High School, where he was a member of the basketball team. He joined the Navy in August, 1965, and attended corpsman school at San Diego Naval Hospital. He was on the staff of the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton CA when he volunteered for the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. Surviving besides his parents are a brother, Marine Cpl. Thomas Tate, Bremerton; his maternal grandparents, Mrs. Verda Goodman, Seattle, and M. H. Marlin, Enumclaw; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Inga Tate; and his maternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Verda Guest, both of Seattle. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 13 May 1967) Funeral services for Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd class John C. Tate, 19, of 108 NE 55 St. who died 10 May (1967) of wounds suffered in a mortar attack in Vietnam, were held today at the Bonney-Watson Northgate Chapel. Burial was at Washelli. Mr. Tate, a Seattle native, was graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965, where he played varsity basketball. He joined the Navy in August, 1965, and had been in Vietnam since December. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen D. Tate, Seattle; a brother Marine Cpl. Thomas S Tate, Bremerton; a maternal grandmother, Mrs. Verda J Goodman, Seattle; his paternal grandparents, Mrs. Inga M. Tate, Seattle, and M. H. Marlin, Enumclaw, and a great-grandmother, Mrs. Verga J. Guest, Seattle. The family suggests remembrances to the Navy Relief Society, 13th Naval District Headquarters, Building 9, Seattle. (Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle WA - Obituary Records) Text and photo courtesy of Darilee Bodnar bookstorelady@prodigy.net Faces from the Wall

3 Apr 2005 John C. Tate was a selfless man. We were both from Seattle so we naturally became friends. I only knew him for about a year, but we were together 7 days a week. I still miss JC. Gerry "Doc" March FMF Corpsman 1966-1968 fmfgruntdoc@yahoo.com

"You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 08/10/2009