George T. Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
SSGT George Alexander United States Army
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|---|---|
| Born | August 5, 1971 Alexandria, Virginia |
| Died | October 22, 2005 (aged 34) San Antonio, Texas |
| Place of burial |
Agee Memorial Garden, Clanton, Alabama
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1991–2005 |
| Rank |  Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | War in Iraq |
| Awards |  Purple Heart |
Staff Sergeant George T. Alexander Jr. (born August 5, 1971 – died October 22, 2005) was an American soldier. He became known as the 2,000th United States soldier to die in combat during the Iraq War. This number was reported by the Associated Press.
George Alexander Jr. was serving as a crew member on an M2 Bradley combat vehicle. He was badly hurt when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near his vehicle. This happened on October 17, 2005, in the city of Samarra, Iraq. He was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for treatment. Sadly, he passed away five days later, on October 22, 2005.
Contents
Who Was George T. Alexander Jr.?
George T. Alexander Jr. was an African-American soldier. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He grew up in Alabama.
Early Life and Joining the Army
George Alexander Jr. graduated from Chilton County High School in 1989. After high school, he worked in construction for two years. He then joined the United States Army in 1991. This was around the time of the Desert Storm operation.
Serving in Iraq
At the time of his death, Staff Sergeant Alexander was on his third tour of duty in Iraq. A "tour of duty" means a period of time a soldier spends serving in a specific area. He was part of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. This unit belonged to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Why Was His Death Important?
The death of Staff Sergeant George T. Alexander Jr. received a lot of attention. This was because he was the 2,000th American soldier killed in combat in Iraq. Many people saw this number as very important.
News Coverage and Reactions
News organizations like CNN.com reported on his death. They highlighted the significance of the 2,000th combat death. However, the Pentagon (the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense) played down the importance of this number. A military spokesman said that 2,000 deaths was "not a milestone." He called it "an artificial mark."
Alexander's death led to more discussions about the war. Senators and Congressmen began to talk about the war again. Peace activists also saw his death as a key moment. They believed it showed the war was unnecessary. Soon after his death was reported, many anti-war protests and candlelight vigils took place across the United States. These events happened on October 26, 2005.
See also
- 2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage
