World War II Honoree

Alexander Howard Pregnall, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Charleston, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

2ND LIEUTENANT, ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1940. HE TRAINED WITH THE 534TH AMPHIBIAN TRACTOR BATTALION, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED ON AUGUST 14, 1943. THE DIVISION TRAINED AT CAMP PENDLETON UNTIL MOVED TO ITS BASE ON MAUI ON JANUARY 7, 1944. FROM MAUI, IT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF ROI-NAMUR FROM JANUARY 31 TO FEBRUARY 15, 1944, THE INVASION OF SAIPAN AND TINIAN FROM JUNE 15 TO AUGUST 1, 1944, AND THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA FROM FEBRUARY 19 TO MARCH 16, 1945. DURING THESE INVASIONS, AS A CAPTAIN, HE COMMANDED C COMPANY OF THE 534TH, WHICH TRANSPORTED TROOPS AND SUPPLIES FROM THE OFFSHORE SHIPS TO THE INVASION BEACHES, AND AFTER THE BEACHES WERE SECURE THEY ASSISTED THE DIVISION IN THE MOPPING-UP OPERATIONS. HE DIVISION WAS DEACTIVATED ON NOVEMBER 28, 1945, AND HE WAS RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON FEBRUARY 2, 1946, AS A MAJOR, HAVING EARNED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH BLUE ENAMELED STAR AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL.