James Alley Jr.

Born

1922-07-20

Died

2008-03-14

Birthplace

Mount Ida, Arkansas, USA

Biography

James H. “Moe” Alley (July 20, 1922 – March 14, 2008) was an American Army non-commissioned officer and World War II veteran. He served with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and was one of the original members of the company trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Alley enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and became a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. He participated in the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as well as Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands and the Battle of the Bulge. Alley remained with Easy Company throughout the European campaign and was among the company's original Toccoa men. He received three Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars for his military service. After the war, Alley moved to California before settling in Washington, where he worked as a general contractor, building and remodeling homes and commercial properties. He retired in 1987 and later settled in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Alley's wartime experiences were featured in accounts of Easy Company, including the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), in which he was portrayed by George Calil. Alley died on March 14, 2008, at the age of 85.