Private First-Class Barney Kirby Alexander, born 25 May 1925, was the son of Joseph K Alexander and Fannie L (Hancock) Alexander of Timmonsville, Florence County, South Carolina. Timmonsville is 118 miles due north of Charleston and 80 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach.
In the 1930 census 4-year-old Barney is living with his parents and siblings Joseph 21, Wilton 19, Vivian 16, William 12, Myrtle 7, Fannie 3, and Marvin 4 months, on a farm in Timmonsville Township of Florence County, SC. His father is a general farmer.
In the 1940 census 14-year-old Barney is living with his parents and siblings Myrtle 17, Fannie 13, Marvin 10, and Joe Jr 7, on a farm in Philadelphia Township, Darlington County, SC.
On his May 1943 draft registration 18-year-old Barney is living on the farm on Rural Route 2, Timmonsville Township, Darlington County, SC. He works on his father's farm. The Darlington County/Florence County Line runs SW to NE just northwest of Timmonsville. The town of Timmonsville is in Florence County, but Timmonsville Township is partly in Darlington County where the Alexander farm was located.
Barney enlisted or was inducted 29 Mar 1944 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He'd had four years of high school and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under farm hands, general farms. He was assigned to Company B of the 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division.
On 15 Mar 1945 the 63rd Infantry Division smashed through the Siegfried Line east of Saarbrucken, Germany. Two weeks later they crossed the Rhine River. The Division switched to the southeast, capturing Lampoldshausen and clearing the Hardthauser Woods, 7 April. A bridgehead was secured over the Kocher River near Weissbach, 8 April, and Schwabisch Hall fell, 17 April.
The NARA WWII casualty listing by state and county for South Carolina show Alexander, Barny K, Pfc from Darlington County as killed in action 9 Apr 1945. We can assume he was killed somewhere near the Kocher River just SE of Weissbach while moving SE toward Schwabisch Hall. Weissbach is 48 mi NNE of Stuttgart. Barney's US WWII Hospital Admission Card File says he died from artillery fragments to the neck. Not in medical installation prior to death.

Contributor: Andy (48021049) •