James Henry Alley Jr (1922 - 2008)

Born 20 Jul 1922 in Mount Ida, Montgomery, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Dawna Mae (Morhous) Johnson — married 20 Apr 1948 (to 28 Oct 1974) in King, Washington, United States

Husband of Elizabeth Jane (Riley) Alley — married 14 Jun 1975 in King, Washington, United States

Died 14 Mar 2008 at age 85 in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit, Washington, United States

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Biography

James Alley Jr is Notable.

Staff Sergeant James Alley Jr served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 22 Sep 1942
Unit(s): 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Service ended: 19 Sep 1945

Staff Sergeant James Alley Jr was Wounded in Action during World War II.

James Alley Jr was awarded the Purple Heart.

James "Moe" Henry Alley Jr. is notable for his exceptional service and valor during World War II as a member of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company E, of the 101st Airborne Division. His bravery was showcased in significant battles and operations, including the Normandy Invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. As one of the original 140 Toccoa men of Easy Company, his wartime experiences were later immortalized in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," where George Calil portrayed him. Throughout his military career, Moe earned three Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars, reflecting his extraordinary commitment and sacrifice in the defense of his country. Beyond his military service, Moe's life was marked by resilience and adaptability, transitioning from a carpenter in housing construction to a successful general contractor in Washington state. His legacy of courage, dedication, and service continues to inspire and resonate with countless individuals.^[1]

James "Moe" Henry Alley Jr. was born on July 20, 1922, in Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas, to James Henry Alley Sr. and Grace Victoria (Davis) Alley.^[2] He spent his early years in Mount Ida, where he lived both in 1930^[3] and 1940.^[4]

In 1942, with the world engulfed in World War II, Moe answered the call to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Army on September 22, joining the ranks as a private.^[5] Assigned to Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company E, of the renowned 101st Airborne Division, he found himself at the forefront of some of the war's most pivotal moments. Moe participated in the daring airborne jumps of the Normandy Invasion and Operation Market Garden. His valor and dedication were further tested during the brutal Battle of the Bulge, where he was among the select few to reach Hitler's retreat. Notably, he was one of the 140 original Toccoa men of Easy Company, a distinction that later saw him portrayed by George Calil in the acclaimed HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers."^[1][6][7]

Moe's bravery did not go unnoticed. For his exemplary service across Normandy, Central Europe, Rhineland, and Ardennes, he was awarded three Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars. By the time he completed his service, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, Moe had left an indelible mark on the annals of military history.^[1][6] He was honorably discharged on September 19, 1945.^[8]

Following his military service, Moe relocated to California with his family. On April 20, 1948, he exchanged vows with Dawna Mae Morhous in King County, Washington.^[9] By 1950, the couple had settled in Los Angeles, where Moe pursued a career as a carpenter in housing construction. A year later, in 1951, they moved to Washington state, where Moe transitioned into a general contractor, overseeing the construction of both residential homes and commercial buildings.^[10]

He and his first wife divorced, Moe found love again. On June 14, 1975, he married Elizabeth Jane Young, formerly known as Riley, in King County, Washington.^[11]

James "Moe" Henry Alley Jr. died on March 14, 2008, in Sedro-Wooley, Skagit County, Washington.^[12][13] He was laid to rest at Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley, leaving behind a legacy of courage, dedication, and service that continues to inspire generations.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Alexander, Larry., "In The Footsteps Of The Band Of Brothers: A Return To Easy Company's Battlefields with Sergeant Forrest Guth, Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin (Group) (Canada), 2010. "In The Footsteps Of The Band Of Brothers: A Return To Easy Company's Battlefields with Sergeant Forrest Guth." Accessed 17 Apr 2024.
2. ↑ Arkansas, Birth Certificates, 1914-1922: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Birth Certificates; Year: 1922 Ancestry Record 61774 #241256
3. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Mount Ida, Montgomery, Arkansas; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 2339821 Ancestry Record 6224 #86994775
4. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: Mount Ida, Montgomery, Arkansas; Roll: m-t0627-00157; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 49-24 Ancestry Record 2442 #101257523
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946: National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 02873; Reel: 9 Ancestry Record 8939 #2841298
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "June 6, 1944, remembered: D-Day veterans recall experiences", Sun Herald, Biloxi, Mississippi, 6 Jun 2000, Tue. - Page 1. Newspapers Clip: 145545765, Newspapers Clip: 145545942, Accessed 17 Apr 2024.
7. ↑ "'Brothers' coming to museum's aid - Easy Company members will attend fund-raiser for museum renovation", LongView Daily News, Longview, Washington, 4 Nov 2001, Sun. - Page 9. Newspapers Clip: 145546075, Accessed 17 Apr 2024.
8. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010: Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ancestry Record 2441 #10937908
9. ↑ Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854-2013: Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc147347 Ancestry Record 2378 #754785
10. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census: National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 29; Page: 79; Enumeration District: 66-84 Ancestry Record 62308 #256375020
11. ↑ Washington, U.S., Marriage Index, 1969-2017: Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington, Marriage Index, 1969-2014 Ancestry Record 61233 #50489
12. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #82094437
13. ↑ Washington, U.S., Death Records, 1907-2017: Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Death Index, 1940-2017 Ancestry Record 6716 #2555432
14. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124512085/james_h-alley: accessed April 17, 2024), memorial page for James H. -Moe- Alley (20 Jul 1922–14 Mar 2008), Find A Grave: Memorial #124512085, citing Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley, Skagit County, Washington, USA; Maintained by Robert Galloway (contributor 47367097).