Alfred Denny Crox

Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Army

Serial: 32271379

Unit: 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: June 8, 1944, Volterra, Italy

Burial: Plot D O 1045B, Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ

Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart

Private First Class Alfred Denny Crox was born, with his twin brother William, to Elmer and Flora Sparks Crox, of 3181 Alabama Road in the Fairview section of Camden, NJ, on September 15, 1920.

Alfred Crox was inducted into the United States Army early in the war. In October of 1943, the Camden Courier-Post reported that he was serving at El Paso, TX; twin brother William was in Southern California; brother Harry in North Africa; and step-brother Raymond Kowski was at Camp Hood, TX. Alfred Crox was assigned to the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division.

PFC Crox was killed in action on June 8, 1944 during the battle to capture Volterra, north of Rome, Italy. On that day he had crippled two German tanks with hand grenades, and was leading two prisoners back to his own lines when he was cut down by another German soldier of the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division.

Alfred Denny Crox was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions on that day. The citation accompanying the award read, in part:

His accomplishments and gallant and selfless exposure to mortal peril, and his heroism in the face of deadly enemy fire, are an inspiration to all who know him, and uphold the most glorious traditions of the armed forces.

His body was returned to the United States after the war, and on October 19, 1948 he was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ next to his twin brother William Crox, who had died of wounds received in action on June 6, 1945.

The brothers were survived by their father, two sisters, Ellen Virginia and Edith, a younger brother, Harry Walter Crox, and step-brother, Raymond Kowski.