Like many Hinesville families with ties to Fort Stewart, fallen soldier Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate’s parents moved here, moved away and came back again.
Tate was the stepson of a 3rd Infantry Division soldier. He and his stepfather, Sgt. 1st Class Walter Moore, were both deployed at the same time — Moore to Iraq and Tate to Afghanistan. Tate, 27, was killed July 13 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire.
He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
“We have been stationed at Fort Stewart on and off over the last 15 years,” Tate’s mother Valerie Moore said. “My son went to Diamond Elementary and he attended Bradwell Institute. He played football in Germany at Wiesbaden. When he was younger he attended the Fort Stewart Youth Center and he played baseball for them.”
Moore said her son loved his job.
“He used to say he had a career. And he enjoyed it 100 percent,” the proud mother said. “He jumped out of airplanes and helicopters. He also was a cook.”
Moore said her son often made homemade macaroni and cheese, cookies and biscuits.
“He would call from overseas to ask me for recipes when he had to cook anything,” she said.
In his off time, Tate also restored classic cars.
“He liked to put the rims on and soup them up and all that good stuff,” Moore said.
Tate joined the Army on Oct. 18, 2001, as a food services specialist. His first assignment was in Darmstadt, Germany.
Tate deployed to Iraq for the first time from October 2003 to February 2004. In April 2004, he was reassigned to Fort Stewart and deployed to Iraq again from January 2005 to January 2006.
In July 2006, Tate arrived at Fort Bragg and was assigned to 782nd Brigade Support Battalion. He deployed with the unit to Afghanistan from March 2007 to April 2008 and stayed to deploy again in August 2009.
“Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate was a true warrior and leader of paratroopers. His last actions were a testament to the leader he was, as he grabbed a young paratrooper and led him to safety,” said Capt. William Hofmann, his company commander. “Staff Sgt. Tate was the epitome of a silent professional and a non-commissioned officer for others to emulate. Hero is the only word that can be used to describe a man of Staff Sgt. Tate’s caliber and moral fiber.
“He cared with all his heart and loved his family dearly. He loved what he was doing, he loved the paratroopers with whom he served, and he will forever be remembered as an American hero.”
Tate’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army service ribbon, three overseas service ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
Tate is survived by his mother and stepfather, his father Reginald Tate, his wife Marion, 3-year old daughter Kiante and sister Ebony Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at the main chapel on Fort Stewart. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 23, at Dorchester Funeral Home in Midway.
“He gave us 27 good years. And we’re happy with that,” Valerie Moore said.
Tate was the stepson of a 3rd Infantry Division soldier. He and his stepfather, Sgt. 1st Class Walter Moore, were both deployed at the same time — Moore to Iraq and Tate to Afghanistan. Tate, 27, was killed July 13 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire.
He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
“We have been stationed at Fort Stewart on and off over the last 15 years,” Tate’s mother Valerie Moore said. “My son went to Diamond Elementary and he attended Bradwell Institute. He played football in Germany at Wiesbaden. When he was younger he attended the Fort Stewart Youth Center and he played baseball for them.”
Moore said her son loved his job.
“He used to say he had a career. And he enjoyed it 100 percent,” the proud mother said. “He jumped out of airplanes and helicopters. He also was a cook.”
Moore said her son often made homemade macaroni and cheese, cookies and biscuits.
“He would call from overseas to ask me for recipes when he had to cook anything,” she said.
In his off time, Tate also restored classic cars.
“He liked to put the rims on and soup them up and all that good stuff,” Moore said.
Tate joined the Army on Oct. 18, 2001, as a food services specialist. His first assignment was in Darmstadt, Germany.
Tate deployed to Iraq for the first time from October 2003 to February 2004. In April 2004, he was reassigned to Fort Stewart and deployed to Iraq again from January 2005 to January 2006.
In July 2006, Tate arrived at Fort Bragg and was assigned to 782nd Brigade Support Battalion. He deployed with the unit to Afghanistan from March 2007 to April 2008 and stayed to deploy again in August 2009.
“Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate was a true warrior and leader of paratroopers. His last actions were a testament to the leader he was, as he grabbed a young paratrooper and led him to safety,” said Capt. William Hofmann, his company commander. “Staff Sgt. Tate was the epitome of a silent professional and a non-commissioned officer for others to emulate. Hero is the only word that can be used to describe a man of Staff Sgt. Tate’s caliber and moral fiber.
“He cared with all his heart and loved his family dearly. He loved what he was doing, he loved the paratroopers with whom he served, and he will forever be remembered as an American hero.”
Tate’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army service ribbon, three overseas service ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
Tate is survived by his mother and stepfather, his father Reginald Tate, his wife Marion, 3-year old daughter Kiante and sister Ebony Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at the main chapel on Fort Stewart. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 23, at Dorchester Funeral Home in Midway.
“He gave us 27 good years. And we’re happy with that,” Valerie Moore said.