Sergeant Choate was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action by the enemy in South Korea on 17 August 1950 and returned to duty 10 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy along the Naktong River south of Taegu, South Korea, on 16 September 1950.

Choate was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan).