Memorial Day History: Simeon Alexander Box

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Box was born in Quitman, Mississippi and was All State in Football, Track and played Semi Pro baseball.

Simeon Alexander Box turn down a baseball contract with the Cincinnati Reds to accept a scholarship to play for LSU football in 1938.

Box wore the famous #20 before Billy Cannon’s LSU days.

A dislocated shoulder in 1939 forced him to focus on baseball for the Tigers.

Batting cleanup and playing RF for
LSU baseball, “Alex” Box would have success for the Tigers.

Box eventually graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering in 1941 and received a commission in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant.

In August of 1942, Box was shipped to Britain.

From Britain, Box was on 1 of 22 ships to be a part of Operation Torch, the Allied Invasion of North Africa.

November 7th, 1942:

As a Platoon leader, Box commanded a half track and destroyed enemy machine gun placements in Algeria clearing out a path for the Allied invasion.

Due to his bravery in Algeria, Alex Box was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. (2nd highest award for Valor)

In February of 1943, the Germans launched a full assault against US forces in Tunisia.

Field Marshall Rommel was pushing the Americans and had to be slowed down.

On February 19th of 1943, Alex Box and his team were laying mines to stop the Nazi advance in Tunisia

One of the mines exploded killing him and 3 other service members.

Box was just 23 years old

3 months later LSU voted to honor him by naming it Alex Box Stadium.

Hero.

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