George Alexander

Soldier a ‘good daddy,’ ‘attentive big brother’

By Jane Self, Features Editor, Published in The Tuscaloosa News Nov. 14, 2005

From the time he was a young boy, George Alexander Jr.’s mother always told him he needed to be there for any children he ever had.

She expected him to do whatever it took to make sure that happened.

“And he was a good daddy. Grandma saw to that,” said Ann Spence from her Clanton home earlier last week. Her grandchildren, Alexander’s 7-year-old son, Jsai, and 5-year-old daughter, Alexandria, both live in Texas, where Alexander spent several years of his Army career.

After Spence remarried when Alexander was about 7, his father drifted out of his life.

“History has a way of repeating itself,” Spence said. “And I didn’t want George’s children to grow up without their father in their life,” she said.

Despite her resolve, her 34-year-old son will not be around to watch his children grow up. He died three weeks ago – the 2,000th U.S. soldier to die in Iraq.

His death on Oct. 22 was a result of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb in Samarra destroyed the vehicle he was riding in five days earlier.

He was a staff sergeant assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, GA. 

“George gave the Army, and this country, the ultimate sacrifice, his life,” Spence said.

Alexander was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio after his injuries. Spence met him there.

“He was heavily sedated,” she said. “But the way his blood pressure was acting, I think he knew I was there.”

Clanton turned out for Alexander’s funeral Oct. 29.

“He was a good person,” said Ray Scruggs, who was principal of Chilton County High School when Alexander graduated in 1989. “He was well liked by all the other students and the jokester of the class.”

Scruggs said Alexander was not an outstanding athlete because he was smaller than average (his mom called him scrawny).  But he grew considerably after he got out of high school, surprising all his family and friends.

While he was deployed, Alexander would call home every Sunday. If he ever missed talking to his son in Texas, Jsai would call Spence.

“He would say ‘Granny, I haven’t heard from my daddy. Tell your child to call me,’” Spence said.

The Sunday before he was fatally wounded, Alexander called home and talked to his 27-year-old sister, Sasha Spence. He also has another sister, Jorica, 22.

“He was a very attentive big brother,” Ann Spence said. “He would tell his sisters as they were growing up he was their daddy. He would later say ‘I combed your hair. I changed your pampers. You’re going to have to listen to me.’

“He was protective of both of them,” Spence said, “especially the little one, Jorica.

Before returning to Iraq in August, Alexander had spent several months at home recuperating from a broken arm. He would travel back and forth to Fort Benning, where he was getting treatment for his arm.

Although he had done many tours of duty, Alexander was unusually hesitant about going this time.

“He just didn’t feel good about going back,” Spence said. “I told him he needed to see a therapist, but he said he didn’t want that on his record.” She’s pretty sure he never got around to seeing anyone about his feelings.

“My son is a hero, and it hurts to know that I will never be able to hold him, kiss him or look into his eyes with a mother’s tenderness,” Spence said.

“I say to mothers of America to always tell their children that you love them, because you never know if it’s the last time.”