born February 13, 1947 Morgan County, Alabama
died November 16, 1967 Quảng Trị, Quảng Trị, Vietnam
FindaGrave info here
Parents, James and Lillie Mae Hill Alexander
High school - Danville
Basic Training - Parris Island
Bobby Ray Alexander was born Thursday. February 13, 1947 in Morgan County, Alabama to James Alexander and Lillie Mae Hill Alexander.
He attended Danville High School. In July 1966, he and his brother-in-law joined The Marine Corps on the buddy system. After boot camp at Parris Island, the two were split up and Bobby was sent to Vietnam. His tour of duty began on January 25, 1967. Bobby was wounded on two other occasions, before he was killed in action on November 16, 1967. He was a 20 year old Corporal.
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Vietnam Victim Rites Sunday
HARTSELLE -- Funeral services for Bobby Alexander, 20, of Hartselle 4, who was killed in Vietnam Nov. 16, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Macedonia Baptist Church, Rev. Austin Self, the Rev. Kenneth Graham officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Guntharp Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include the parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Alexander of Hartselle; two brothers, Billy and Tommy Alexander of Hartselle; a sister, Mrs. Shirley Eddy of Hartselle; a half brother, Charles Hill of Florida; his grandmother, Mrs. Mae Hill of Decatur.
Bill Alexander, L.V. Alexander, Travis Alexander, Ray Alexander, Fred Alexander and Kenneth Chaffin will be pallbearers.
The body will arrive at the funeral home at 2 p.m. today and will remain there until services.
Published in The Decatur Daily on Saturday, November 25, 1967
The 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment (3/3) was originally formed at New River, North Carolina in 1942 and saw action on both Bougainville and Guam during World War II, where it won the first of its Presidential Unit Citations for "gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions"; and the first of its Navy Unit Commendations for "outstanding service". Marines in the battalion were awarded one Medal of Honor and seven Navy Crosses during the war. Following World War II, 3rd Battalion was disbanded until 1951, when it was reformed in California. The battalion was alerted for possible deployment during the 1956 Suez War and the 1958 intervention in Lebanon. In 1965, the Marines of 3rd Battalion were deployed to Vietnam and participated in Operation Starlite, the first major Marine engagement of that conflict. The battalion continued to see major action through the Vietnam War and was rotated back to the United States in 1969. Alumni from its time in Vietnam include Sergeant Robert O'Malley the first Marine in Vietnam to be awarded the Medal of Honor, Oliver North, and John Ripley. Around the end of the Vietnam War, 3rd Battalion was deactivated for a second time in 1974.
In 1975, 3rd Battalion was reformed for the third (and last) time at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. During this period, the battalion conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1983, 3rd Battalion deployed off the coast of Lebanon for several weeks during a particularly tense period in the civil war. During the 1980s, the battalion was briefly commanded by Charles Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, who nicknamed 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines "America's Battalion" because it was similar to the nickname used by the Dallas Cowboys. 3rd Battalion deployed again in 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield and saw action at the Battle of Khafji and again during the liberation of Kuwait. In the first decade of the 21st century the battalion deployed twice overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
FindaGrave info here
Parents, James and Lillie Mae Hill Alexander
High school - Danville
Basic Training - Parris Island
Unit - K CO, 3RD BN, 3RD MARINES, 3RD Marine division, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Home of record Decatur, Alabama
Start Tour: 01/25/1967
Incident Date: 11/16/1967
Casualty Date: 11/16/1967
MOS 0311: RIFLEMAN
1. This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
2. My rifle is my best friend.
It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
3. My rifle, without me, is useless.
Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me.
I will.
4. My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire,
the noise of our burst,
nor the smoke we make.
We know that it is the hits that count.
We will hit.
5. My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strength,
its parts, its accessories,
its sights and its barrel.
I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage
as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready.
We will become part of each other.
We will.
6. Before God, I swear this creed.
My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
7. So be it,
until victory is America's and there is no enemy,
but peace!!
Bobby Ray Alexander was born Thursday. February 13, 1947 in Morgan County, Alabama to James Alexander and Lillie Mae Hill Alexander.
He attended Danville High School. In July 1966, he and his brother-in-law joined The Marine Corps on the buddy system. After boot camp at Parris Island, the two were split up and Bobby was sent to Vietnam. His tour of duty began on January 25, 1967. Bobby was wounded on two other occasions, before he was killed in action on November 16, 1967. He was a 20 year old Corporal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vietnam Victim Rites Sunday
HARTSELLE -- Funeral services for Bobby Alexander, 20, of Hartselle 4, who was killed in Vietnam Nov. 16, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Macedonia Baptist Church, Rev. Austin Self, the Rev. Kenneth Graham officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Guntharp Funeral Home directing.
Survivors include the parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Alexander of Hartselle; two brothers, Billy and Tommy Alexander of Hartselle; a sister, Mrs. Shirley Eddy of Hartselle; a half brother, Charles Hill of Florida; his grandmother, Mrs. Mae Hill of Decatur.
Bill Alexander, L.V. Alexander, Travis Alexander, Ray Alexander, Fred Alexander and Kenneth Chaffin will be pallbearers.
The body will arrive at the funeral home at 2 p.m. today and will remain there until services.
Published in The Decatur Daily on Saturday, November 25, 1967
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| Marine Corporal |
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| Kilo Company |
The 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment (3/3) was originally formed at New River, North Carolina in 1942 and saw action on both Bougainville and Guam during World War II, where it won the first of its Presidential Unit Citations for "gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions"; and the first of its Navy Unit Commendations for "outstanding service". Marines in the battalion were awarded one Medal of Honor and seven Navy Crosses during the war. Following World War II, 3rd Battalion was disbanded until 1951, when it was reformed in California. The battalion was alerted for possible deployment during the 1956 Suez War and the 1958 intervention in Lebanon. In 1965, the Marines of 3rd Battalion were deployed to Vietnam and participated in Operation Starlite, the first major Marine engagement of that conflict. The battalion continued to see major action through the Vietnam War and was rotated back to the United States in 1969. Alumni from its time in Vietnam include Sergeant Robert O'Malley the first Marine in Vietnam to be awarded the Medal of Honor, Oliver North, and John Ripley. Around the end of the Vietnam War, 3rd Battalion was deactivated for a second time in 1974.
In 1975, 3rd Battalion was reformed for the third (and last) time at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. During this period, the battalion conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1983, 3rd Battalion deployed off the coast of Lebanon for several weeks during a particularly tense period in the civil war. During the 1980s, the battalion was briefly commanded by Charles Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, who nicknamed 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines "America's Battalion" because it was similar to the nickname used by the Dallas Cowboys. 3rd Battalion deployed again in 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield and saw action at the Battle of Khafji and again during the liberation of Kuwait. In the first decade of the 21st century the battalion deployed twice overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.
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| Third Battlion |
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| Marine Corporal B Alexander Third Division |
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| Marine Corporal B Alexander, Air Ground Team, Airborne Amphibious Force |
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| Marine Corporal B Alexander 3rd Marine Division |
BOBBY R ALEXANDER is on the
Vietnam Memorial Wall at Panel 29E, Line 104
If you knew him, knew his family, served with him in Vietnam, have a story or memory to share, please comment.
Read more about the battle for freedom in
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| Amazon link |
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