Harold Slate salutes during the singing of God Bless America to start the day at Silver Foxes Social Club in Baldwinsville in 2020. (Dennis Nett, syracuse.com/TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — Former Stars and Stripes photographer Harold P. Slate, 96, of North Syracuse, N.Y., died Sunday at his home in North Syracuse.
Born in Alexandria Bay, Slate served in the military in four wars — World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm, his obituary said.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 and served overseas during World War II. He remained in the Navy until 1946.
In 1948, Slate enlisted in the Army and became a combat photographer. He served in the Signal Corps in Japan, the U.S., Taiwan, and Vietnam. He worked in the Army Pictorial Center, Old Paramount Studios, the Pacific Stars and Stripes, and the Military Police, Criminal Detachment, as well as many others throughout his service. He retired from the Army in 1966.
In 1991, he volunteered again and was called to active duty with a U.S. Army escort detachment in support of Operation Desert Storm.
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Slate worked for Carrier Corp., and stayed there until his retirement in 1986. He also worked part-time at The Syracuse Newspapers as a photographer for 35 years, taking thousands of photos of life and news in Central New York.
Slate loved spending time with his family, his obituary said. He was passionate about his time in the military, taking pictures, traveling throughout Japan, fishing, camping, skiing, snowmobiling, bowling, and enjoying the company of friends and people he would meet.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a previous Grand Knight. He was also a member of the American Legion for 75 years, American Legion Forty and Eighth, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pacific Stars and Stripes, and the International Press Club.
As one person who posted on his obituary page said: “Hal will be missed by all of us, the senior, the middle age, and the young. He brought joy and gave endless love to everyone around him.”
Calling hours will be held 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Farone & Son Funeral Home, Liverpool. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Rose of Lima Church in North Syracuse with a Mass of Christian Burial.
©2022 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit syracuse.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
