Donald Alexander

Birthplace: Brentwood, TN

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: F Company, 2nd Battalion, 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment,101st Airborne

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Jun 1, 1938

Highest Rank: LT

Military Honors: Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge with Bronze Star for Combat Jump, Distinguished Unit Citation

Donald C. Alexander was the second of four sons of Luther T. Alexander of Brentwood, Tennessee. He also had four sisters. All of the Alexander boys served in the military. Donald attended Oglesby Elementary School, Central High School, David Lipscomb College, State Teachers College in Murfreesboro, and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He was a member of the Woodson Chapel Church of Christ. Donald Alexander served three years in the US Army from 1938 until 1941 primarily in Hawaii where he was assigned to the Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 27th Infantry at Schofield Barracks. He returned to active duty in early 1942 shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After volunteering for the paratroopers, he was assigned to the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, later incorporated into the 101st Airborne Division. They shipped out to England in August of 1943 to prepare for the invasion of the European continent. Alexander parachuted into enemy held France in the middle of the night/early morning of June 6, 1944; forever known in history as D-Day. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his gallantry in action against the enemy on June 13 and was killed in action leading his men on June 19, 1944. His unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer, France.