John Irvin Alger

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Tom Kovach on February 18, 2010:

John, Ed Menninger and I were given the same initial assignment after Ranger and Airborne Schools following graduation - platoon leader in the 1/509th Airborne/Mechanized in Mainz, Germany, with each line company getting one of us. We spent twice as much time in the field as other battalions of the 8th Infantry Division since we had to maintain both our Airborne Infantry readiness and our Mechanized Infantry readiness. When not in the field, we battled each other across the room as defense and trial counsels in court martial proceedings. Marilyn and I were the first of the three couples to arrive in Mainz. We were assigned the only available officer's quarters at the time - a three-bedroom Major's quarters. When John and his first wife Martha arrived about a month later, no quarters were available so they moved into one of our spare bedrooms. About the time they were assigned quarters and moved out of our bedroom, Ed and his wife Joan arrived. Same story - they moved into one of our spare bedrooms until quarters were available. Over the ensuing months, the six of us spent many an evening at the Officers' Club or at our quarters creating lots of memories. And Marilyn, Martha and Joan spent much time together while the guys were in the field. Joan died in 1968 from complications after giving birth to their son; Ed was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969; and now John leaves us. I do not know the whereabouts of Martha, but now a minimum of half of our little group of six are gone. Rest in peace, John. Tom Kovach

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