Wade was "a recruiting poster Marine," recalled a younger sister. He attended John Paul Jones Junior High School and worked at a clothing plant before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1956. While stationed in Hawaii, Wade discovered water sports, and took up surfing and scuba diving. He loved dancing as well. "When he came home on leave, he taught me all the new Latin dance steps he had learned on visits to Spain, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands,' the sister said. "He was everything a big brother was supposed to be," In letters from Vietnam, Wade confided he was as concerned about morale as he was for the physical safety of his men. His dream was to leave Vietnam and upon retirement, build his own home in Pennsylvania, The 27-year-old staff sergeant was a platoon sergeant in Company A of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Wade died on Feb. 25, 1967, in Thus Thiel Province after being lured into a Viet Cong booby trap. In addition to his two sisters, he was survived by his wife and a daughter