| Mick Tate 20th Engineer Brigade 100Th Bridge Company November 29,1948<---->August 1, 2008 |
| Even though his illness was contributed to agent orange, the love of his country and experience of knowing the men he served with in Vietnam in the 100th engineers lasted a life time. I was lucky enough that Mick shared and talked about the time he spent in the US Army, the pride he felt about it showed year after year. Linda Tate |
| A SOLDIER DIED TODAY He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past. Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one. And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke, All his buddies listened quietly For they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Mick has passed away, And the world's a little poorer For a soldier died today. He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way; And the world won't note his passing, 'tho a Soldier died today. When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state, While Thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young, But the passing of a soldier Goes unnoticed, and unsung, Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife, Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life? The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives, And often disproportionate, To the service that he gives. While the ordinary soldier, Who offers up his all, Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small. It is so easy to forget them, For it is so many times, That our Bobs and Jims Went to battle, but we still pine. It was not the politicians, With their compromise and ploys, Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand, Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stands, Or would you want a Soldier, His home, his Country, his kin, Just a common Soldier, Who would until the end? He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us We may need his like again. For when Countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier part Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start. If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise, Then at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days. Perhaps just a Simple headline In the paper that might say: "Our Country is in mourning, A Veteran Died Today." Author Unknown Mick You will never be forgotten, Once an Engineer, Always an Engineer |
| Age 59 of 301 Longshore Ct. Dahinda, IL died Friday August 1, 2008 at 7:30 PM at OSF St. Mary Medical Center. He was born November 2, 1948 in Galesburg, IL the son of Leo F. and Betty Lou Heiser Tate. He married Linda A. Shanks in Galesburg on November 29, 1969. son, Brandon (and Christy) Tate of Heyworth, IL, one daughter, Stephanie (and Adam) Cartwright of Naperville, IL, one brother, Ronald (and Paula) Tate of Galesburg, and four grandchildren, Emily and Trevor Cartwright and Livia and Lyla Tate. He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty and one brother, Rickey Tate. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1967. He began his career as a grocer at the age of 15 working for Benner Tea known as Giant Foods in Galesburg on October 31, 1964. Later Giant Foods became the present Econo Foods where he was the store director at the Main St. and Henderson St. stores. Mick was a member of the V.F.W. # 2257, the Galesburg Bass Club, and the Galesburg Optimist Club. He served in the US Army from June 1968 to June 1970 serving in Vietnam as a Combat Engineer. Mick loved fishing and felt strongly about community service. Funeral services will be 10 AM Wednesday August 6, 2008 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Chapel Galesburg with Rev. Randall Douglass officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 4-8 PM at the chapel. Burial will be in East Linwood Cemetery with military services conducted by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Dahinda, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Galesburg Fishing Derby, or a blood or platelet donation with the American Red Cross in honor of Mick Tate. |