Sergeant Hardy B. Alligood

Sergeant Hardy B. Alligood was born in 1916 to Elyer Obelah Alligood and Rachel Alligood in Laurens County, Georgia.[1][2] His father, Elyer Alligood served in World War I at the age of 39.[3] According to records, information on his mother is scarce. Hardy was the younger of his two siblings, Augustus and Bertha Alligood.[4][5] Census records show that he may have been married to Florence B. Alligood. The couple left Dublin, Georgia to live in Volusia County, Florida,[6] where Hardy worked in a warehouse until his enlistment date on March 12^th, 1943 at Camp Blanding in Starke, Florida.[7]

Alligood served in Company K in the 291^st Infantry Regiment of the 75^th Infantry Division.[8] The 75th arrived in England on November 22, 1944. After a short training progam, the Division landed in Le Havre and Rouen on December 12.[9] His regiment saw action in the Rhineland of Central Europe during the Ardennes German Offensive, and prevented the Germans from advancing into the Belgian city of Antwerp during the Battle of the Bulge.[10] After halting the German advancement, Alligood’s regiment teamed up with French and British forces to run the enemy back across the Rhine River. They then aided the French in their mission to take back the Colmar from the Germans in the Battle of Colmar in early February of 1945.[11] The 75th crossed the Colmar Canal on February 1 and fought German forces between the Rhine River and the Vosges Moutains as part of the liberation of Colmar.[12] Enemy forces killed Sergeant Alligood in action during this battle on February 3^rd of 1945 in the Alsace-Foret Domaine area.[13] His commanders awarded him a purple heart, a combat decoration that recognizes a soldier who was wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy[14]. He now rests in peace at the Epinal Cemetery in Lorraine, France[15].