Today friends and shipmates held a memorial service on board the Iwo Jima, for 21-year-old Airman Darren Tate. Tate died earlier this month from pneumonia.
A smiling face is just how family and friends want to remember Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Daren Tate.
Tate died last week from penumonia at a hospital in Afghanistan where the 21-year-old volunteered, to serve.
Before that Tate was stationed on the USS Iwo Jima, which is based in Norfolk. One of his shipmates, Aviation Ordinanceman First Class Jon Sazama, says serving his country is all Tate wanted to do.
"I know he was happy being a sailor, and I know he wanted to make a difference. And joining the Navy. Joining this mission, is how he did it."
Today, during a memorial service held on the ship his former sailors remembered their co-worker who always took care of others before himself.
Airman Tate has been awarded the Bronze Star and the NATO Medal. He will be laid to rest next week in Texas, where he was from.
A smiling face is just how family and friends want to remember Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Daren Tate.
Tate died last week from penumonia at a hospital in Afghanistan where the 21-year-old volunteered, to serve.
Before that Tate was stationed on the USS Iwo Jima, which is based in Norfolk. One of his shipmates, Aviation Ordinanceman First Class Jon Sazama, says serving his country is all Tate wanted to do.
"I know he was happy being a sailor, and I know he wanted to make a difference. And joining the Navy. Joining this mission, is how he did it."
Today, during a memorial service held on the ship his former sailors remembered their co-worker who always took care of others before himself.
Airman Tate has been awarded the Bronze Star and the NATO Medal. He will be laid to rest next week in Texas, where he was from.
