African American. Alaska Highway. Company C. Born: 21 April, 1920, New Canton, VA. Died: 30 June 1942, Alaska. Enlisted: 15 January 1942, Richmond, VA.
Education: three years high school. Civilian occupation: Baker’s helper. His mother was Virginia Banks, his sister was Anna Banks and his Aunt was Dorothy Pollard.
Major’s cause of death was progressive jaundice and acute atrophy of his liver. Captain Frank F. Heger, MD of the 97th attended to Major at the Valdez Hospital. His effects were sent to his mother and he was initially buried in the Valdez, Alaska cemetery.
Valdez Cemetery was located 3 miles southeast of the city of Valdez, on the Richardson Highway. This is not an Army cemetery, but is the property of the city of Valdez. Soldier graves are located in plots allotted to the Army by the city.
On 20 July 1945, his body was reinterred from the isolated cemetery at Valdez, AK to the military cemetery at Ft. Richardson, AK.
By 22 September 1947, Congress authorized the disinterment and final burial of the heroic dead of WW2. Major’s body was disinterred on 3 August 1948 from Ft. Richardson Military Cemetery. In the states his body was received by Osborne Funeral Home, Bremo, Virginia on 5 October 1948. Finally, he was laid to rest once more at Zion Grove Cemetery, New Canton, VA on 7 October 1948.
Serial #33123072