World War II Honoree

Alexander G. Nyiri, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Southwestern Veterans Center, Pennsylvania

SERVED AS AN ACTING TECHNICAL SERGEANT IN COMPANY D, 1ST INFANTRY BATTALION, 19TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION FROM MARCH 29, 1940 TO JULY 30, 1945. THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST U.S. INFANTRY DIVISION TO SEE COMBAT IN WWII. TRAINED TO OPERATE THE .30 CALIBER WATER COOLED MACHINE GUNS AND 81MM MORTARS. STATIONED AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 7, 1941 HE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION WERE STRAFED BY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT AS THEY ATE BREAKFAST IN A DINING HALL AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS. ALONG WITH OTHER MEN FROM HIS UNIT, RETRIEVED MACHINE GUNS FROM THE NEARBY ARMORY AND SET THEM UP ON THE ROOF OF ONE OF SCHOFIELD BARRACKS’ BUILDINGS AND FIRED AT JAPANESE AIRCRAFT WHICH WERE FLYING TO ATTACK WHEELER AIRFIELD, PEARL HARBOR AND OTHER MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ON THE ISLAND. FOLLOWING PEARL HARBOR, PARTICIPATED IN 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION’S CONSTRUCTION OF DEFENSES FOR THE ISLAND OF OAHU. WAS PART OF A 150 MAN CONTINGENT OF THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION WHICH RELIEVED A NEW ZEALAND GARRISON ON FANNING ISLAND (NOW TABUAERAN) IN THE GILBERT ISLAND CHAIN. HE SERVED ON FANNING ISLAND FOR 11 MONTHS. AFTER HIS SERVICE ON FANNING ISLAND, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE HOLLANDIA DISTRICT OF DUTCH NEW GUINEA. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA WHERE HE SERVED AS A WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR, INSTRUCTING SOLDIERS ON THE USE OF THE .30 AND .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS, 81MM MORTAR AND 37MM ANTI-TANK GUN. AWARDED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR.