World War II Honoree

John Mcauley Alexander

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Charlotte, North Carolina

Honored By

Daughter and Family

HE WAS A COMBAT OFFICER IN WWII. AN ARTILLERY LIEUTENANT, HE COMMANDED AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT DETACHMENT OF MOBILE HEAVY MACHINE GUNS AND 40-MILLIMETER CANNONS IN THE FINAL BATTLES AGAINST GERMANY IN 1944 AND 1945. HIS UNIT WAS A LEADING ELEMENT IN 12TH ARMY GROUP’S ASSAULT OVER THE RHINE RIVER AT WESEL IN APRIL 1945. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, HIS DETACHMENT RACED ACROSS GERMANY, ENDING UP AT PILSEN IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AT WAR’S END. HE WAS AWARDED TWO BATTLE STARS AND COMMENDATION AWARD FOR COMBAT DUTY. HE SERVED AS THE AIDE DE CAMP TO THE GENERAL COMMANDING THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SET UP AFTER THE WAR AT BIARRITZ, FRANCE, TO PROVIDE UNIVERSITY COURSES FOR AMERICAN VETERANS. HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1947, AND RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE ARMY RESERVE.