Alva Leon Al Campbell

Alva Leon Campbell died Sunday, January 20th at the age of 79 in Temple, Texas. A former resident of San Antonio and Poteet, he was born January 12, 1929 to Charles and Jewel Echols Campbell and except for the times he was stationed overseas or working for U.S. contractors all over the world, was a life-long proud Texan. Before his health declined, he loved working outside and enjoying his roses and other plants. He felt there was something wrong with folks who didn't like animals and had a dog even when he was really too ill to care for one. He collected Civil War memorabilia and thought that General Robert E. Lee was the greatest general who ever lived. He was stubborn, opinionated, and intensely interested in politics. Alva Campbell's great pride was having served in the United States Army for more than 20 years.

He determined at an early age that staying home on the farm or in school was not for him and enlisted in the Army in 1947. He did his basic training at Ft. Ord, CA with the 4th Infantry Division, in an Artillery unit. A postcard he sent home to his parents read, "Boy, I sure don't know what I got myself into... all the drill instructors are WWII vets; hard as nails, mean, and kicking my butt."

After his first assignment in Hawaii with the 9th General Hospital, he went to Ft. Benning, GA in 1948 and then into airborne training at Ft. Bragg, NC for eight weeks. He resigned from airborne after his first parachute jump landed him in a tree where he hung for quite some time. He was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry Div, 756 Heavy Tank Bn Audie Murphy's division, which was renamed 73rd Heavy Tank Bn. He shipped out by rail to Oakland, CA and then boarded the ship "John Pope" for Pusan, Korea.

Starting at Pusan, Alva completed an 18-month tour in Korea, participating in the Inchon Landing under the command of General McArthur. He was qualified on M-26 tanks, then M-46, and then M-47 and was assigned to the Separate Tank Bn with the Eighth US Army, which had seventy-two M-26 tanks.

A young Alva Campbell started out as a gunner on the Platoon Sergeant's tank, eventually becoming the battalion's Top Gunner. When his Platoon Sergeant came down with malaria, and was unable to carry on, he recommended to the Captain that Alva take over as Platoon Sergeant. After discussing it with the battalion CC, the Captain returned to camp and immediately promoted the young Campbell from E-4 Corporal to E-7 Master Sergeant and appointed him as the new Platoon Sergeant. Alva did so well leading his troops that nine months later, his battalion CC offered him a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant. Knowing full well that after the war he would revert to being a Master Sergeant, he declined the promotion.

During combat in Korea, Alva also fought in the Hamhung Invasion on Korea's East Coast in 18 inches of snow. While driving a tank, they hit a Chinese land mine, over turning it and blowing off both tracks. In later years he would recount the horrors of the Korean War.

After participating in 7 out of 10 campaigns in Korea, Alva was assigned to Ft. Hood, Texas as a Basic Training NCO, and was promoted to 1st Sgt. E-8. He was 22 years old.

In 1953 Alva was sent to the 7th Army, 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment with a Tank Bn in Fulda, Germany for 18 months, then to the 510 Tank Bn in Mannheim.

When he returned to the U.S., Alva served with the Reserves and was the Reserve Force Advisor to the 90th Infantry Div at Ft. Sam Houston for 5 1/2 years before being stationed back in Germany with the 7th Army. Returning to Ft Hood in 1962, he served as the Army National Guard Advisor with the 49th Armored Division, 12th Bn in Temple, Texas. He was also the Advisor to subordinate units in Victoria and Yoakum.

Alva then served in Korea again, this time with the 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Johnson, Red Cloud II, 2nd Bn, Co A.

He returned to Texas in 1968 and retired after 22 years of service at Ft. Hood, 1st Armored Division Old Ironsides 35th Armored Bn, Co C. Alva was retired by General George S. Patton, Jr. who returned Alva's last active duty salute and handshake.

His decorations included the Army Good Conduct Medal with seven knots, Korean Service Medal with seven campaign stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal-- Germany Clasp, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation

Alva Campbell is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Rebecca and James Mullan, Patricia and Michael Posvar, Kay and Jim Stewart, and Tracy and Rhett Scott; his son, James Campbell of Temple; his sister Marian Dixon; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.