World War II Honoree

Jay Claude Alexander

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Honored By

Terry D. Jones

Relationship

Son-in-law

SERVED JULY 1933 TO SEPTEMBER 1953. WENT TO BOOT CAMP IN 1933 AND WAS SENT TO CUBA HALF WAY THROUGH BASICS. AFTER SEA SCHOOL, SPENT 2 YEARS ON USS HENDERSON AND USS SARATOGA, TRANSPORTING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES TO CHINA. TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL YARD IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. TRANSFERRED TO NAVAL PRISON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND LEFT AS A CORPORAL AFTER 3 YEARS. TRANSFERRED TO PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA FLEET MARINE FORCE, 6TH MARINES. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT. 1942, MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS. TRANSFERRED TO DUNDEEN, FLORIDA. TRANSFERRED TO GITMO FOR 2 MONTHS AS 1ST SERGEANT. SPENT 3 YEARS IN CUBA AS SERGEANT MAJOR. SENT ON A MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE FOR 6 MONTHS. 4 MONTHS INTO CRUISE WAS SENT THROUGH SUEZ CANAL TO JAPAN. RECEIVED ONE PURPLE HEART DURING INCHON (2 ACTIONS). AFTER INCHON, ORDERED ON ANOTHER MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE AND WAS SENT TO KOREA. DURING KOREA CONFLICT WAS WOUNDED AND RECEIVED 2 ADDITIONAL PURPLE HEARTS.