Richard K. Alexander
Richard K. “Duke” Alexander, Private, U.S. Marine Corps.
Private • U.S. Marine Corps • Serial 1731702
Entered service from New Jersey • Died September 11, 1942
Buried at Locustwood Cemetery, Route 70 & Cooper Landing Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Awards: Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Presidential Citation
Introduction
Richard K. “Duke” Alexander.
Private Richard E. “Duke” Alexander was the son of Nathan P. and Gertrude Alexander. Born in Pennsylvania in 1920, his father was an electrician foreman for the Reading Railroad. By 1930 the family had bought a home at 504 Park Avenue in Laurel Springs NJ. Richard Alexander graduated from Collingswood High School in 1939, where he had starred in track, and continued to excel in that sport at the University of Maryland. He left school to join the United States Marine Corps on March 4, 1942, reporting to Parris Island. He was sent to New River NC on May 4th, and went overseas to Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, and was killed in action on September 11, 1942, at the age of 21.
He received posthumously the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and a Presidential Citation. In his last letter home he wrote: “You have nothing to worry about. It is the same story, the Marines having the situation well in hand.”
The Collingswood High School yearbook, The Knight, wrote: “Richard K. (Duke) Alexander, died with the same ‘will to win’ that made him the greatest track star in Collingswood’s history. He lost his life while fighting with the Marines on Guadalcanal.”
Richard Alexander was survived by his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Alexander of 504 Park Avenue, Laurel Springs NJ, and an older brother Nathan Patterson Alexander Jr. After the war, his body was brought home, and he is buried at Locustwood Cemetery in what is now Cherry Hill NJ.
The Richard K. Alexander Field House and Stadium at Nottingham Academy in Maryland is named in his honor.
‘Duke’ Alexander Slain Fighting Japs
Camden Courier-Post —
Ace Track Star at Collingswood High Dies for U.S. on Guadalcanal
Richard K. “Duke” Alexander, greatest track star in Collingswood High school history, was killed in action with the Japs on Guadalcanal island.
Formal notification was received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Alexander, Park and Locust avenues, Laurel Springs, from Lieut. General Holcombe, USMC, Washington.
Alexander was 21. He enlisted in the Marines March 4, while in his second year at the University of Maryland. While at Collingswood High he held the national scholastic high jump title. A brother, Patterson, 24, a student at the university, has enlisted in the Army Air Corps but has not yet been called to duty.
Last Letter Hopeful
The telegram from Washington gave a tragic twist to young Alexander’s latest letter, received scarcely four weeks ago, in which he wrote:
“I assure you there is nothing to worry about. It is the same story about the Marines having the situation well in hand.”
“Duke,” as he was familiarly known by school mates, was the best all around track star to ever carry the Collingswood high colors, in the opinion of Howard T. “Skeets” Irvine, veteran coach.
“He stood far above any of the track stars in South Jersey and I would rate him the best in the state,” Irvine said. “He won the national scholastic high jump championship one year at Madison Square Garden, New York, and won in state competition several times. He stood out in sprints, the hurdles and javelin contests and he also was a good football player.”
Great Competitor
“Duke was a quiet chap and a truly great competitor. Nothing bothered him. He simply wouldn’t quit.”
Body of ‘Duke’ Alexander Returned From Guadalcanal Grave
Camden Courier-Post —
The body of Richard K. “Duke” Alexander was among 16 South Jersey heroes returned from overseas graves aboard a transport ship from San Francisco.
Services Friday For Colls Star
Camden Courier-Post —
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday for one of the greatest track stars in Collingswood High history.
He is Pvt. Richard K. “Duke” Alexander, of 504 Park avenue, Laurel Springs, who was killed September 11, 1942 with the Marines in action with the Japs on Guadalcanal.
The services will be in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Laurel Springs, where the body will lie in state from noon to 2. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial park.
Private Alexander enlisted in the Marines March 4, 1942, while in his second year at the University of Maryland. While at Collingswood High he held the national scholastic high jump title. Alexander graduated from Collingswood High in 1939 and then entered Nottingham Academy, Colora, Md., where he continued his athletic prowess. The Maryland school has named in his honor a field house and stadium. It is known as the Richard K. Alexander field house and stadium.
Surviving are his father, Nathaniel P. Alexander, and his mother, Gertrude K. Alexander, and a brother, Nathaniel P. Jr.
Photos
Laurel Springs, NJ, World War II memorial.