World War II Honoree

John B. Alexander

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON MARCH 2, 1942. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP BERKELEY, LAKE TAHOE. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO FORT POLK, LOUISIANA FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING. IN 1943 HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO CALIFORNIA FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD HE WAS TRANSFERRED BY TROOP TRAIN TO FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY AND FURTHER TRANSFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY WHERE HE BOARDED A TROOP TRANSPORT FOR ENGLAND. UPON ARRIVING IN ENGLAND HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR COMBAT DUTY IN FRANCE. SHORTLY AFTER HE ARRIVED IN FRANCE HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION ON JUNE 11, 1944. AFTER A PERIOD IN THE HOSPITAL HE WAS FIT FOR DUTY AND RETURNED TO HIS UNIT AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE ON JULY 23, 1944. HE COULD HAVE TAKEN AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE BUT CHOSE TO RETURN TO HIS UNIT. FOR HIS ACTIONS IN COMBAT HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL.