Patrick Eugene McBride was born on March 17, 1947. He had three sisters. He graduated from Neptune High School in 1965. He played baseball and was on the high school track team. McBride’s track coach in high school remembers him as a boy who came out to practice every day “mostly because he liked to keep in shape…..I guess you have a tendency to overlook some of the real stars. He is a star now.” He was also a member of the Ascension Roman Catholic Church, Bradley Beach, NJ.

McBride entered the US Marine Corps from Neptune, NJ. Patrick, who was nicknamed “Sonny”, planned to attend Ocean County College after getting his discharge from the Marines. McBride attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL). Before going to Vietnam, McBride had been stationed at Parris Island, SC.

McBride was killed in ground action on September 10, 1967, near Quang Tri in South Vietnam. In October, he was scheduled to be promoted to full Corporal.

McBride is buried in Glendola Cemetery in Wall Township, NJ.

Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024