World War II Honoree

Nelson A. Alexander, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Providence, Rhode Island

Honored By

Patricia Commons

Relationship

Niece

He was drafted into the army on May 12, 1943. He trained at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and Fort Meade, Maryland, before being sent to England in November 1943 in preparation for a forthcoming landing in Europe. On June 6, 1944, Nelson boarded a landing craft to take part in the invasion of Normandy. He landed on Omaha Beach with Company “G” of the 18th Infantry Regiment at H +380 minutes shortly before 1:00 p.m. in the "Easy Red" sector. He was killed one day after his 23rd birthday, on June 8, 1944. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.