Thomas Carl Alford

Corporal Thomas “Carl” Alford trained as a scout and radio operator with Company D, 3rd Tank Battalion. For the Bougainville operation, his outfit was attached to the 21st Marines.

Towards the end of December 1943, Alford was tapped for a six-man reconnaissance patrol led by Sergeant Earl Cheal. The group departed American lines on the evening of 20 December, contacted and evaded Japanese troops, and established a post where they could observe an enemy bivouac. They moved out early the next morning, but were ambushed at 1030 by “three to four light enemy machine guns.” The Marines fought back, but after a short time “six to eight enemy light machine guns” opened fire from the left flank.

Corporal Alford and another member of the patrol – possibly PFC Harold E. Connor of the 21st Marines – were cut off and took cover out of sight. Japanese fire killed PFC John Williams, Jr., and wounded Corporals John W. Engel and James R. Stonesifer. The two corporals threw grenades and drove off the enemy gunners before Engel lost his life. Cheal and Stonesifer hid out in the brush, unable to search for their missing comrades.

At approximately 1500 hours, Cheal heard an exchange of rifle fire coming from the direction where Alford was last seen. He surmised that the two Marines “were trailed down by Japanese troops and killed.” After another night in the jungle – spent hiding just feet from a major Japanese supply line – Cheal and Stonesifer returned to friendly lines to deliver their report.

Silver Star Medals were awarded to Earl Cheal, James Stonesifer, and John Engel.