Grouping from Col. Alexander John Mackenzie, Regimental Commandor of the 395th Infantry Regiment. 99th Infantry Division

July 29, 2022

Excited to share my latest group in the 99th Infantry Division collection.

The silver and bronze star medal of Col. Alexander John Mackenzie, Regimental Commandor of the 395th Infantry Regiment.

Alexander John Mackenzie was born in New York City, 22 February 1895, the son of Alexina and Kenneth Mackenzie. Both parents were from Scotland. After graduating from West Point he went in June 191 with others of his class to France on a tour of the battlefields. He joined the 9th Infantry in Weinay, Germany and returned with the regiment to Camp Travis, Texas. In 1920 he married Erla Harris, daughter of a San Antonio attorney, C.C. Harris and Orpha Brown Harris. In 1921 MAac (as he was known in Army circles) received orders to Camp Eldridge in the Philippine Islands. A year in the Phillippines was followed by service in Tientsin, China. After he returned to the States he had many assignments and various duties before World War II started in 1939. At that time he was in Panama and he went from there to Governors Island, New York. Wartme stations followed and in September 1944 he left for the European Theater of Operations as regimental commandor of the 395th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. The combat action that his West Point training and his service in the Army had prepared him for came on the Siegrief line in December 1944. The following report is by Reverend Allyn K. Wadleigh, former S-1 of the 395th Infantry Regiment.

''When the German Ardennes offensive began on the morning of 16 December 1944, the 3rd Battalion of the 395th was guarding the extreme north flank of the 99th Infantry Division. The battalion was assigned the mission of holding the Monschau-Eupen-Liege road. It performed magnificently and was awarded battle honors for its heroic stand. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were in action as the flank guard of the 2nd Infantry Division wich was engaged in an attack toward Walerschied. When the ''Battle of the Bulge'' began, the attacking forces were ordered to withdraw southward toward the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt. When the situation at the twin villages became untenable, the 395th made the trek westward in darkness, bitter cold, and snow to the town of Elsenborn. Here the 99th joined the 2nd, 1st and 90 Divisions in the defense of the Elsenborn Ridge. The Germands made fantical attacks at this position but were repulsed. John Eisenhower in ''The Bitter Woods"said that the action of the 2nd and the 99th Divisions could well be considered the most decisive of the Ardennes campaign. The 395th Infantry Regiment was an integral part of that action.''

In citations for the Bronze star medal and the Silver star medal, Mackenzie was commended for outstanding leadership, for actively leading his regiment without regard for his personal safety in repeated attacks of the enemy, and for his constant presence on the firing linde, inspiring the men to defend successfully against superior numbers of enemy forces.

Alexender John Mackenzie died 2 November 1984 in San Antionio, Texas, aged 89 years.