Carroll Samuel ‘Sonny’ Pate was born Jan. 16, 1917 to Samuel Scott and Elvira Violet ‘Vie’ Parrish Pate. He died July 12, 1999 and is buried in the Holmes Lutheran Cemetery, Holmes, IA.
Sgt. Pate served in Normandy, Bastogne, Belgium, The Battle of the Bulge. He was a paratrooper and received the Purple Heart and four battle stars.
In his book “Ordinary Heroes”, Judge Newt Draheim updates information on Carroll Pate, who obtained the rank of Staff Sgt. by the time of his discharge. He was a squad leader decorated with the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and five Battle Stars. He made 11 parachute jumps.
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal and ancestry.com; WWII Memorial Honoree; “Ordinary Heroes, Judge Newt Draheim - Chapter 9.
