World War II Honoree

Alpheus E. Fowlkes, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mobile, Alabama

Honored By

Mr. Marshall S. Knudsen

Relationship

Nephew & Godson

SERVED IN THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION , 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. MADE ALL 4 COMBAT JUMPS: SICILY, SALERNO, NORMANDY ON D-DAY AND HOLLAND. HE JUMPED WITH COMPANY C INTO HOLLAND, AND IN THAT LAST JUMP WAS A MEDICAL CORPSMAN. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT THE TREE ROW AT BREEDEWEG, NEAR GROESBEEK, FACING THE REICHWALDE. THIS WAS DURING A GERMAN 88 ARTILLERY BARRAGE. HE WENT OUT DURING THE ARTILLERY ATTACK TO HELP 11 MEN WHO HAD BEEN HIT. DURING THIS ACT OF BRAVERY HE HIMSELF WAS HIT AND KILLED BY A SMALL PIECE OF SHRAPNEL ON OCTOBER 2, 1944. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY. HE IS BURIED IN THE AMERICAN CEMETERY AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS.