Memorial marker in family plot

Private, U.S. Army
Service # 37596859
818th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart

Silver Star: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First-Class Alfred B. Byrne, U S Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile enemy while serving with the 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to the 26th Infantry Division. Headquarters 26th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 86 (1945).

PFC Alfred Byrne, born in 1910, was the son of Frank J. and Beatrice “Bessie” Mary (White) Byrne of Larimore, ND

In the 1920 census 9-year-old Alfred is living with his parents and siblings Floyd 14, Teresa 13, Mary 11, Jamie 8, Walter 6, Lawrence 4, Stella 3, and Alice 1, on the family farm in rural Petersburg ND

In the 1930 census 19-year-old Alfred is living with his parents and siblings Floyd 24, Teresa 23, Walter 16, Lawrence 14, Stella 13, Alice 12, Lillie 9, and Charles 7, still on the family farm in Petersburg.

In the 1940 census 29-year-old Alfred is a hired hand on the farm of Sarah E Johnston in rural Lodema Township, Pembina County,ND

Alfred enlisted 20 Jun 1944 at Fort Snelling, MN. He had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His occupation was listed as general farm hand. He was ultimately assigned to the 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion attached to the 26th Infantry Division.

The 26th Division crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim, 25-26 March. It took part in the house-to-house reduction of Hanau, 28 March, broke out of the Main River bridgehead, and drove through Fulda, 1 April. Fulda is 60 miles northeast of Frankfurt. Alfred was killed in action 1 Apr 1945 in the vicinity of Fulda.