IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 551-11
June 27, 2011

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate Jr., 29, of Mullins, South Carolina, died June 26, 2011, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 2nd Marine Logistics Group public affairs office at 910-451-3589. 

A family in Marion, South Carolina, is mourning the loss of a 29-year-old Marine after he was killed during combat in Afghanistan Sunday.

Second Lieutenant James Stenger with the United States Marine Corps said Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate, Jr. of Marion was an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to Second EOD Company, Eighth Engineer Support Battalion, Second Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He joined the Marines in 1998 and was promoted to his current rank in 2009, according to Stenger.

During his time with the Marines, Pate was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and was also deployed in 2009 and 2011 for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Stenger said Pate’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award.

Circumstances surrounding Pate’s death were not immediately made available.

Gunnery Sergeantt Pate, was born on October 22, 1981 in Marion, South Carolina. EJ was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Marine Corps on October 14, 1999. He joined EOD in January of 2005. He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Gunnery Sergeant Pate is survived by his wife Kimberly of 4 years and his two children, daughter Brianna and son Ashton; His parents Roy and Inez Stroud and sisters DeeDee Travis and Misty Ryan.

Visitation will be held at Richardson Funeral Home in Marion, South Carolina on 5 July 2011 from 5pm-9pm. Funeral Services will be at Mullins High School, in Mullins South Carolina on 6 July 2011 at 3pm. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia.
 

PATE, RALPH EARL JR  
GYSGT   US MARINE CORPS 
AFGHANISTAN 
DATE OF BIRTH: 10/22/1981 
DATE OF DEATH: 06/26/2011 
BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 7028 
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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