Petty Officer 2nd Class Laquita Pate
James
United States Navy
KIA 12 Feb 2007
23, of Orange Park, Fla.; assigned as master-at-arms supporting operations off the Horn of Africa
aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship Bataan; died Feb. 12 of apparent natural causes
aboard Bataan.
Tributes

This Memorial Page Established by-Lovie Slade
In Honor Of MA2 LaQuita Pate James

The Navy and Kings Bay family lost an extraordinary
Sailor Feb. 12. The Kings Bay Security Department member was not only a
top-notch member of her unit; she was a friend who made a lasting
impression here and at her new duty station.
MA2 Laquita Pate James, 33, died of apparent natural causes while
serving aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5). The ship was on deployment supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom off the Horn of Africa.
James spent three years as a member of the Kings Bay Security
Department. This was her first duty station where she learned the different
phases of being a patrol officer. Supervisors said James always put in
extra effort on the job and was recognized as the hardest working, most
knowledgeable police officer even though she was fresh out of master at
arms school. According to Field Training Officer Brian Middleton, James
was a special person who doesn't come along very often.
"I have trained a lot of police officers at Kings Bay. No person made
me as proud as Laquita did," he said. "She had more than a can-do
attitude: She had a will-do attitude. Nothing was going to stand in her way.
The Navy lost a great Sailor today."
James was a single parent who leaves behind two sons Steven and D'Jimon
of Orange Park, Fla. Being a single parent coupled with long shift
work and a potentially dangerous occupation could break anyone. However,
according to coworkers, James stood out from the rest by never using
single parenting as a crutch to get special treatment. She always
performed at a high level whenever she was scheduled to work, even taking over
shifts when the situation arose. She always said is "My kids will be
taken care of."


"She is the only Sailor I have worked with who never used being a
single parent as an excuse," said Watch Commander Lt. Trey Ripley. "When she
was supposed to be at work, she was here. She was more than a
co-worker, she was a friend. I can't believe she is gone," Ripley added. James
was also the career counselor for the security department, ensuring
Sailors filled out the necessary paperwork to either extend or reenlist.
Although she was a model Sailor, she was a good friend and an asset to
the community. Many single parents came to her for advice on how to
manage a military career and still be a loving parent.
MA2(SW/AW) Vernetta Knox praised this quality about James. Knox
remembered that when she had returned from Cuba that her car was in need of
repairs and James was there to lend a helping hand. She even made sure
all of the repairs where done. Little things like this were what set her
apart she said.
"James was the type of person willing to go out of her way to help a
friend," Knox said. "We are both single parents. She was there for me and
I was there for her. We could both rely on each other." "She joined
the Navy to make a better life for her family," said MA2(SW/AW) Charles
Copeland. "She loved her sons very much. She was crazy about them. She
was just a good person, and we will all miss her very much."
James made an impression on the lives of almost everyone at the
Security Department. According to Kings Bay Security Officer Lt. Cmdr. Richard
Tucker, it is a great loss to the Navy and Kings Bay to lose a great
Sailor like Laquita James.
"She was an outstanding Sailor -- an outstanding, all-around person,"
he said. "I wish I could have a hundred people like her under my
command."
By MC2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope Staff


Day is done, gone the sun, from the hills, from the lake, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest. God is night

February 05, 2012
shay cannon
Sister as the day draws near marking your death I get sick with pain and hurt all over again!!
If only I could have said everything I wanted to say to you i would not have so much hurt
and pain in me. Everybody wants to say it will be ok but no one can walk in my shoes but
me!! They dont hav e a clue! Sis i luv you so much and miss u like crazy!!!If only i could turn
back the hands off time!! I luv u!!!

June 02, 2010
MARSHA CANNON

LAQUITA JAMES WAS MY STEPDAUGHTER,I AM MARRIED TO HER FATHER FORREST
CANNON WE REALLY MISS QUITA ME AND QUITA HAD GOTTEN SO CLOSE..SHE
ALWAYS CALL ME EVERY MONDAY WE WOULD TALK ON THE PHONE FOR HOURS I
STILL MISS HER PHONE CALLS AND I WILL NEVER FORGET OUR LAST CONVERSATION
OR OUR LAST VISIT..SHE SPENT THANKSGIVIVG WITH US IN 2006.WE DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT WOULD BE OUR LAST TIME SEEING HER....WE LOVE YOU QUITA AND WE MISS
YOU,BUT YOUR MEMORIES WILL FOREVER LIVE ON IN OUR HEART AND OUR MIND..WE
ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DID AND SAID AND YOUR SISTER MYA
IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF YOU BECAUSE SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU AND I HOPE
SHE GROW UP AND BE JUST LIKE YOU!!!!LOVE YOU QUITA.....YOUR
DAD(FORREST)STEPMOM(MARSHA)AND BABY SISTER MYA..
Sign Guestbook
        LaQuita Pate James                Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class LaQuita Pate James