US AIRBORNE

Alexander P Suer was born in Philadelphia in 1917.

After his studies at "Overbrook High School" of Philadelphia, he joined the dental school of "Temple University", where he got his doctorate ( DDS) in 1938.

He opened then his own dentist's surgery in Philadelphia.

Being a part of the American Jewish community and because of Hitler’s threat, Alexander joined the Army Reserve Corps in 1939 and in April, 1941 he joined the dental service of the American army.

He did the 12 weeks training course at Carlisle "Medical Field Service School" in Pennsylvania.

Alexander "Pete" Sweat then got a physical training identical to all the servicemen, and got acquainted with the different ways of the military dentist job : within a campaign hospital, but also as a "Medic" in a fighting unity on the front line, a job which consists in practising all the cares of vital emergency, the collection of wounded people and their evacuation except on battle areas.

And this, according to the Geneva Agreements that was only possible without carrying guns.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Alexander was a volunteer for the parachutist units. On July 6th, 1942, he got his parachutist's patent and joined the 505th PIR.

Alexander Suer was part of operation Husky.

He landed without being hurt. Having escaped the Italian patrols, he found Colonel Gavin near the crest of Biazza and began collecting the wounded persons and lead them to an campaign hospital managed by Cpt. Daniel McIlvoy, the surgeon of 3rd battalion.

Alexander Suer borrowed an ambulance from the 45th division of infantry and made several journeys towards the coast to drive the wounded people to the doctors of the Navy.

He was trapped in a shooting between the Germans and his own comrades, and saw several wounded people of both camps. Without paying attention of the violent fight, he did not hesitate and, brandishing a flag of the Red Cross, he surrendered with them to evacuate them all towards a non exposed area, being cautious not to be hit by friendly or enemy bullets. Alexander Suer was also part in operation Avalanche.

On D-Day, the 6^th of June, 1944, Alexander Suer jumped over near Ste Mère Eglise. When the fights started to slow down, he and Dr Robert Franco organized a first-aid post in the hospice of the village, a big building located at the northern exit along the road towards Montebourg.

"Pete" Sweat stayed in the hospice and did the best he could to give first aid to the wounded people whatever was their nationality, and to collect them on the battlefield in order to move them towards the first aid post. Because of the care he gave to his patients, despite the German firings, during 56 hours without resting, Alexander P Suer was awarded with the Silver Star Medal.

Then, it was operation Market Garden. Alexander Suer carried on collecting the wounded soldiers during the violent fights driving his Jeep.

But that was during the battle of the Bulge that his fate was about to be sealed. On December 23rd, "Pete Suer" had to collect two wounded people who were waiting for urgent care near the German lines. Three male nurses came along, but all alone he crawled defenseless towards the soldiers.

Then at that very moment shootings of mortar hit his legs and crushed his two feet. He required that both wounded soldiers would be moved away before him. Then, he was moved away too. The seriousness of his wounds was so important that Alexander P Suer had to be moved to Liège hospital then towards Paris and from there by plane towards the big military hospital Walter Reed near Washington.

On February 1st, 1945, "Pete Suer" wrote to the Dr. McIlvoy and to his colleagues of the 505th PIR a letter to inform them that:

" as you may know, I had my both legs amputated - the left one cut under the knee and the right one above the ankle... The reason of this bilateral amputation is the gangrene. All the blood vessels of my calfs were destroyed... I am in no way satisfied to be back to the States and not only because of my legs. I am so sad to have missed the end of all this after being so much involved there... "

A note written at the end of the letter said :

" Dear Major,

    This letter was sent to me by the Walter Reed Hospital. Al died at 9 pm, of a pulmonary embolism we could say in a way. We are devastated, but I suppose this is the price of the war. I hope at least that fights you lead and the ones where Al was in would not be vain.

At least his son and your children will not have to face all this "horror"...

" Benjamin SUER (his father) "

Al was 28-year-old when he died, he left a widow and a 2-year-old son.