Charles Samuel Pate

Platoon Sergeant Charles Pate served with Mike Company, the heavy weapons unit of the Third Battalion, 2nd Marines. He distinguished himself in action in the Solomon Islands while leading a section of machine gunners, and at the time of Operation GALVANIC was probably serving as the senior NCO of a .30-caliber Browning platoon.

On 20 November 1943, Pate’s battalion was assigned the task of spearheading the assault on Betio’s Beach Red One – a curved stretch of sand running several hundred yards from the “bird’s beak” in the west to Red Two in the east. The natural shape of the beach created a crossfire for the defenders, and the area became known as “the Pocket.” Slow-moving landing craft were quickly targeted from multiple angles, and many were knocked out as they approached the shore. Hundreds of men were killed or wounded before stepping foot on dry land. Those who survived faced a network of obstacles manned by determined Japanese defenders, and the fighting was close-in and savage.

Pate was reported as killed in action on 20 November, either during the landing or shortly after coming ashore. No specific details of his death are known.