Cullman in Cullman County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
PFC Patrick Bates
Cullman County, Alabama
Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 28, 2017
1. PFC Patrick Bates Monument
Last American soldier killed in combat, WWII.
Shot in back of ear, right side, by a Japanese sniper in Guam.
Buried, Punchbowl National Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Military Order of the Purple Heart series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.
Location. 34° 11.546′ N, 86° 51.562′ W. Marker is in Cullman, Alabama, in Cullman County. Memorial can be reached from Sportsman Lake Road NW, 0.4 miles west of 2nd Avenue NW (Route 31). Located in the Cullman Veterans Memorial Park at Sportsman Lake Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1544 Sportsman Lake Road NW, Cullman AL 35055, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Combat Wounded Veterans (here, next to this marker); Marion Albert Hill (a few steps from this marker); Cullman County World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Operation Iraqi Freedom - Afghanistan Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Cullman County Vietnam Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Cullman County Korean War Memorial
this page online
Regarding PFC Patrick Bates. The last American killed in action by the Japanese was PFC William C. Patrick Bates of K Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Regt., 3rd Marine Div., on Dec 14, 1945. Part of Patrol No. 7, a 16-man squad, Bates was on a five-day sweep of Tactical Area 505 Peter located behind the Asan-Piti beaches in Guam's west-central sector. The search-and-destroy mission for Japanese stragglers was headed for the village of Piti. The squad was moving along a ridge covered with 6-foot-high sword grass when shots rang out at 12:30 p.m. The sniper did not know the war was over. Bates died 45 minutes later. He had fought in the Battle of Bougainville, Battle of Guam and the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 28, 2017
2. This marker is located behind the Purple Heart Memorial.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 28, 2017
3. Memorial is located to right of base of the American flag.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 890 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 29, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
