Silver Star (Full Citation needed): 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 (ASN: ), United States 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).

Private First-Class Alfred Bartholomew Byrne, born in 1910, was the son of Frank J. and Beatrice “Bessie” Mary (White) Byrne of Larimore, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Larimore is in northeastern North Dakota 31 miles due west of Grand Forks.

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 township, Nelson County, North Dakota. Petersburg is 21 miles west northwest of Larimore.

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, North Dakota. Lodema is 55 miles due north of Larimore, almost to the Canadian border.

Alfred enlisted 20 Jun 1944 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He’d 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. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county show Byrne, Alfred B., 37596859, Pfc, from Nelson County, North Dakota as killed in action 1 Apr 1945 so we can assume be was killed in the vicinity of Fulda.

A cenotaph marker in memory of Alfred was place at Michigan Cemetery, Nelson County, North Dakot