Joseph H. Alexander


Joseph Hammond Alexander was a Colonel of the United States Marine Corps and historian.

Education

Alexander obtained master's degrees in history and national defense from North Carolina, Georgetown and Jacksonville Universities.
He also graduated with distinction from the Naval War College.

Military career

Alexander served in the Marine Corps for 29 years. He had been in command of a company during his time in Vietnam and then a battalion in Okinawa. He later served in amphibious task forces on ships at sea for five years.
By the time of his retirement he reached the rank of colonel and served as chief of staff of the 3rd Marine Division in the western Pacific.

Post-Military

When Alexander retired, he began a whole new career as a military history writer. He worked with Lou Reda Productions as chief historian and scriptwriter for their documentaries, which were aired on the History Channel of the Arts and Entertainment Network. He resided in Asheville, North Carolina.
He was a member of the board of Habitat for Humanity and volunteered as a home builder.
He died at the age of 76 in Asheville, North Carolina on September 28, 2014.

Selected publications

Across the ReefBattle of the Barricades: U.S. Marines in the recapture of Seoul Edson's Raiders: The 1st Marine Raider Battalion in World War II A Fellowship of Valor: The History of the United States Marines Fleet operations in a mobile war: September 1950-June 1951 Storm Landings: Epic Amphibious Battles in the Central Pacific Sea Soldiers in the Cold War: Amphibious Warfare 1945-1991

Awards

  • Naval Institute Author of the Year in 1996
  • Naval History Author of the Year in 2010
  • Theodore And Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize In Naval History in 1995