1st Lt. Richard T. Alexander

Biography and Wartime Service

Richard Thomas Alexander Jr. was born on October 5, 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee to Richard T. Alexander Sr. and Elizabeth Andrews. He grew up in New York but spend a lot of time in Germany as well because of his father's work on Germany with Columbia University meant he travelled often. During the 1920s and 1930s the family was in Germany several times where Richard witnessed the rise of the Nazis from very close by. Richard himself as well studied at Columbia University where he was still was when he was drafted on October 20, 1942. Alexander himself described what happened next to have been a stroke of luck as he was not send to a replacement center but immediately to Camp Atterbury & the 83rd Infantry Division. As one of the original members he was assigned to Divisional artillery.

As a member of the 83rd Richard Alexander completed his training and additional training with the artillery at Camp Atterbury and Camp Breckinridge. In 1943 he participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers as well for which he would receive a Honorary Military History Degree from Northcumberland University in 2012. As the division was preparing to go overseas Richard, at the time a Master Sergeant, was part of a small advance party that was send to England to prepare the area where the 83rd was going to be stationed. After about two months in England the 83rd crossed the channel on June 18, 1944 of which Richard remembers being very seasick. While in England he had also been assigned to be an aerial observer by General Montague becoming one of two official observers. This surprised Richard as he was not an officer and did not have the experience but he said "yes, sir".

After flying his first mission Richard remained on this duty with the Divisional artillery for the remainder of the war earning the Air Medal twice along the way. Along with the 83rd Division he made his way through France, Luxemburg, Belgium and Germany. In April, 1945 when the division was approaching the Elbe River he received a commission to 2nd Lieutenant, nevertheless staying in his same unit and job. Not much later he would also receive the Silver Star Medal after succesfully directing fire from his piper cub against a German tank and infantry attack for over four hours. Nearing the end of WW2 Richard Alexander was selected by General Montague to be his aide which he remained until his return home.

Richard was a 1935 graduate of the Lincoln School; New York, NY; Dick earned his Bachelor and Master degrees from Columbia University, New York, NY and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. He maintained contact with many of the hundreds of students he taught over his career, with many who remembered him at his 100th Birthday. Dr. Alexander was granted Emeritus status in 1982. He passed away on October 17, 2017 only two weeks after his 100th birthday.

The above was paraphrased from an interview with Richard Alexander which can be found on the link. A transcript of this interview is available as well.

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