World War II Honoree

Alpha William Ayers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

McAlpin, West Virginia

Honored By

Gregory L. Ayers

Relationship

Son

JOINED THE U.S. ARMY AND BEGAN ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 3, 1942 AT FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE IN FRANCE AND GERMANY, AND THE PACIFIC THEATRE IN JAPAN AS COMBAT INFANTRYMAN WITH THE SIGNAL CORPS. RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE FIRST AWARD AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON WWII. SELECTED FOR AND PARTICIPATED IN ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM FROM 1943 TO 1944 AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, WHICH WAS RUN BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM WAS SET UP TO TRAIN ENGINEERS BUT WAS DISCONTINUED AFTER ONE YEAR WHEN THE END TO THE WAR WAS FORESEEABLE. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AT THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FROM THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 386TH INFANTRY AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA ON FEBRUARY 16, 1946.