PFC. Max L. Alcantar
US Army 415th Inf, Co. "K" 104th Inf Div.
from:Fresno, CA
(d.25th Feb 1945)
104th Inf Div, APO 104
Order number: General 20
Date of Orders: 1 Dec 44
"For gallantry in action in *** (Stolberg, Germany) on 18th November 1944.
During mid-afternoon of 18th of November 1944 Private Alcantar's company was ordered to withdraw from a small heavily wooded park. Enemy observation was very good and their mortar and artillery fire was very heavy. The plan was to withdraw in waves with leap-frog protection on the right flank. An active enemy machine gun was located to the rear of the company. Private Alcantar was in the first wave, and as they came abreast of the enemy machine gun position, it opened fire on them. Private Alcantar, who was an automatic rifleman, immediately engaged the enemy machine gunner by return fire.
This action required him to stand in an exposed position, both to the machine gunner and the heavy enemy mortar barrage which was being placed on them. Private Alcantar forced the silence of the enemy machine gun by this action and though wounded by shrapnel, maintained his position until his comrades had successfully withdrawn to an area of safety, after which he joined them. This heroic act in the face of heavy enemy fire from a fully exposed position greatly reflects the finest spirit of the American soldier."
As PFC Alcantar continued with the Timberwolves, often fighting at night across Germany as part of the First Army in the drive toward the Rhine, it is presumed that he was with other members of the 415th, Company K as they entered Ellen, Germany on 24 Feb 1945. During a night engagement on 25 Feb 1945, Company K entered a town on a hill, a very important place in the drive. They had nearly reached the town when the enemy opened fire. They fought their way into the town, and PFC Alcantar was just entering a house when he was struck by rifle fire. When he fell his comrades went to him and an aid-man came to his side. There was nothing they could do. Death was merciful in this, it came instantly and he did not suffer.
The above account of PFC Alcantar's death was provided by a personal letter to the Alcantar family by Gerald A. Quinn, Chaplain for Company K. The closing of the letter reads, "Max was certainly a brave boy and a good boy. During the past few weeks I used to say mass in the evening at his company command post and Max always attended. His men all looked up to him as courageous and dependable. I hope that even in your sorrow you can have a feeling of pride. May God comfort and console you and may He grant that out of such sacrifice as this, true and lasting peace may come to a suffering world."
Max was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and he was buried in Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium. The cemetery is located approximately 7 miles southwest of Aachen, Germany, and was under the care and supervision of military personnel during the war. PFC Alcantar was buried in plot UUU, row 1, grave 10.
On 14 April, 1947, Max's father, John Alcantar, requested that Max be brought home to his family in Fresno, CA. The Fresno Funeral Chapel on A Street would be responsible for accepting the body of PFC Alcanter before he was interred at the Fresno Liberty Cemetery. Almost 5 months after the initial request was made, PFC Max L Alcantar was disinterred from Henri-Chapelle Cemetery on 12 September 1947, and transported via truck to Antwerp Port, Pier 140, under the supervision of Sgt. Lupe J. Valenzuela. Sgt. James Blackmon received PFC Alcantar at the Port of Antwerp on 15 September 1947.
Captain Paul McGee of the USAT Joseph V Connolly left Antwerp Port with PFC Alcantar on 4 October 1947, and brought him home to the United States at the New York Port of Embarkation on 25 October 1947. The USAT Joseph V Connolly was a Liberty ship, used for cargo transport during the war, and converted after the war to be the first funeral ship to bring back the war dead from the European theater. In January 1948, the USAT Joseph V Connolly caught fire, was abandoned, and sank in the North Atlantic. On 27 October 1947, PFC Alcantar was brought to American soil, and awaited a train transport home. 3 November 1947, Max began the cross country journey home via train. He arrived in San Francisco, CA one week later on 10 November 1947.
On 12 November 1947, SSgt Ray H. Lowden of the 36th Engineer Combat Group, Temporary Duty, 6th Army Escort Detachment, Oakland Army Base, received his orders to escort Max home. Included in his orders, “mourning band furnished will be work at all times while performing (temporary duty) at places designated above.” Additional orders to all concerned were provided with the subject: “Request for immediate shipment over other cases” as the son-in-law of Juan and Lupe Alcantar, brother in law of Max, provided the following request: “Mrs. Juan Alcantar, mother of deceased in highly emotional state regarding her son’s death, and her condition has reached the point where even the mention of the boy’s name in the household is taboo. Upon doctor’s orders, Mr. Juan Alcantar, legal next of kin of deceased, has sent mother to LA and hopes to keep her there until body of son is returned to Fresno for final burial.” The letter continues on to state, “Because of critical condition of mother and possible fatal results occurring if she is involved with funeral, brother in law (Mr. Matt Rivera) has requested that we no longer contact family home regarding plans. It has been explained to him that next contact will be between this center and funeral home involved.”
The tragic death of Max was too much for his beloved mother to bear. Her grief overcame her at the mention of his name, and the family was required to make special accommodations just to return him home. Because of this secrecy, even his brother, Sgt. Ernest L. Alcantar, did not know many of the details as his brother was brought home. Sgt. Ernest L. Alcantar died in June of 1996, not fully knowing the details of his brother’s death and return home due to the levels of secrecy maintained in concern for the family matriarch’s health. On 14 November 1947, Staff Sergeant Ray H. Lowden accompanied PFC Max L Alcantar on his final journey home on Train #2 AT & SF, leaving Oakland at 9:55 AM and due to arrive in Fresno, CA at 3:30 PM railroad time on 14 November, 1947. On 20 November 1947, Juan Alcantar submitted an Application for Headstone or Marker for PFC Max L. Alcantar to be buried in Liberty Cemetery 1831 W. Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93728.
PFC Max L. Alcantar is honored in remembrance by his family, and the War Dad’s Auxiliary of Fresno, CA has included his name on a monument at Kearney Park. Next to the monument stands a grove of trees where other fallen heroes are memorialized. PFC Max L. Alcantar has a tree dedicated in his honor near 36°43'35.04"N, 119°54'45.29"W. His name is also inscribed in the walls under Silver Star and Purple Heart at the Legion of Valor Museum in Fresno, CA. His last surviving sibling, Raymond L. Alcantar, proudly displays his photo and medals at family reunions and gatherings.
