Mr. Lacy Bates

Just now learned of Sergeant Bates passing he was also my platoon sergeant in 1962 at Fort Riley Not only was he a leader he was also my mentor Alpha Fire team leader specialist e-4 Joseph Haynes Sergeant Bates will always be part of my memories they broke the mold when they made him

So sorry for your loss. What a good long life Lacy enjoyed. Many cannot say the same. She was one of those especially strong. Ps. 90:10

May fond memories and loving words comfort your family at this difficult time. (Isaiah 57:15)

I am deeply sorry for the loss of your love one. May loving words comfort your family at this time of sorrow. Isaiah 57:15 and Luke 17:8.

Master Sergeant Lacy Bates

This past week America lost a truly great man. He was a patriot, a leader of men, a soldier's soldier, a quiet man, a brave man, a man with nerves of steel, a man God placed on this earth to serve and protect this great nation and the soldiers under his command.

His name is Master Sergeant Lacy Bates, late of Manchester, TN. I was fortunate to have served In the United States Army with MSGT Bates. He was my platoon sergeant in 1964 and 1965. We were attached to the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Base Stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. The unit was called the Black Lions of Cantigny part of the Big Red One. In the past week I have spoken to a number of MSGT Bates' men and every one of these men remembered MSGT Bates with total awe and respect some 50 years later. Not many of us can say that we would be remembered in such a manner after all those years. When I look back on how he changed my life for the better, I know I would not be the person I am today had MSGT Bates not entered my life when he did. He instilled in us that we could conquer whatever life brought whether in time of war or peace. He trained us to be a well-oiled fighting machine, while all the time praying for peace. When in the swamps at night he was never lost; when attacking in the mountains he was never tired, when on a forced march he was always right beside us quietly encouraging his men to follow him. He spent 22 years in the service of his country, 54 months of that 22 years was spent overseas and most of it was in combat. He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He was wounded many times and was awarded 3 Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. He was a quiet man with the heart and strength of a lion.

A truly great man only passes through your life once if you are lucky, and I was lucky. I had searched for MSGT Bates for over twenty-eight years; I just wanted to thank him for all that he had done for me. I found some information that I thought might be about him shortly after the first of the year, 2016. After much more searching I found a telephone number and an address for what I hoped was him. When I called the number and this sweet lady answered the telephone, I asked if this was the residence of MSGT Lacy Bates and was he the same MSGT Bates who served in Fort Riley, KS in 1964 and 1965. The lady started to cry and told me that yes it was the correct MSGT Lacy Bates the one I had been looking for so long to reconnect with and that he was still alive, but seriously ill. He at that moment was in an ambulance returning home from Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN. She and I talked for quite awhile and she asked me if I thought that I could come to see him soon, because of the brain tumor he only had a few months to live. I said of course I would come, but I would also like to include a small number of other men that had served under him and she said but of course that would be great. I gave her the names of the others and asked her to call me and let me know when would be the best time for us to come and we agreed on Thursday the 14 of January 2016. The others were ready to come and hotel reservations were made. I called his wife to let her know we were coming. Then on Tuesday morning, January 12, 2016, I received a call from his wife letting me know that Master Sergeant Lacy Bates had passed away at 12:01am that day. A reunion that was so close would never happen. She mentioned that she had told him that we were coming to see him, and he told her that he remembered us. At least he knew we were trying to visit him.

There were only two of us old soldiers that ended up attending his funeral, Fred Calfee, Cleveland, TN and myself; ironically, the funeral was on the very day and time we were to originally reunite for our visit. His family opened their arms and their hearts to us, making us feel so very welcome. His wife asked us to be honorary pallbearers. What an honor! His funeral was with full military honors and he was buried wearing his dress green uniform. Soldiers from Fort Campbell were there; they played taps, had the traditional rifle salute and handed the folded flag to his widow. His time to serve had come to a close.

While he may be gone from this earth, for hundreds of soldiers he will live on in our memories until the last of us join him in the here after.

Rest In Peace MSGT Lacy Bates

Specialist E-4 Jack R. (Chris) Christen, Bravo Company
Maryville, TN17 Jan 2016