During Monday night's Memorial Day game, the Gwinnett Braves honored a local war veteran for his service during World War II.

According to the team's Facebook post, Melvin Plate was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 21, 1942. After basic training, he went on to Seattle, Washington, for assignment in the Pacific War effort.

Plate was later assigned to Alaska's Fort Randall at Cold Bay in the Aleutian Islands, then to Port Heiden and ultimately, to Fort Morrow, where he was assigned to battery c-595 AAA anti-aircraft at Dutch Harbor.

There, Plate spent the remainder of his career in the U.S. Army.

About the Author

Featured

Travelers walk around the baggage claim in the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Atlanta is among the airports where the FAA will reduce flights due to the shutdown, and airports are facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez