Alexander Fraser Hudgins was born at "Glenwood", the home of the Beville family in Dinwiddie county, Virginia. Being a twin, he arrived prematurely and weighed only 3 pounds, his twin died. His grandmother, Hester Beville Fraser, wrapped him up and settled him 'between her bosoms' to keep him warm. Later, he slept on a silk pillow in her bed. He shared her room until he left for Hampden-Sydney College in 1924.
His intention was to enter seminary for the Episcopal Ministry, but the Depression sent him to work after graduation in 1928. He was a writer for the Richmond News-Leader when he wed Miss Mary Madison Morrison of that same city in 1933. They returned to Blackstone in Nottoway county where he edited and published the Courier Record for several years.
He was drafted into the army in 1942 and served his county in the European Theatre. He was a member of the 66th Division, 266th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was made clerk of the Battalion as he was the only member that could "touch-type" and he maintained the records.
The 66th Division crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944. The majority of the infantry troops were on board the SS Leopoldville and the HMS Cheshire. Just five miles off shore from Cherbourg, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Fourteen officers and seven hundred forty-eight servicemen were lost.
After arriving at Cherbourg the 66th Division regrouped and headed for the L'Orient and St. Nazaire sectors in Brittany to relive the 94th Division which had been guarding the German submarine base pockets that were left after the D-Day invasion. Estimates of the number of German forces left behind in these pockets ran from fifty to one hundred thousand. The 94th division was sent to the Battle of the Bulge. While in Brittany the 66th Division carried out daily reconnaissance patrols along the one hundred and twelve mile front and conducted periodical artillery fire on the pockets of resistance. The artillery fire disabled a number of big German guns and sank numerous re-supply boats. Upon the German surrender on May 8, 1945, the 66th Division moved to the area near Koblenz, Germany for occupation duty and to guard German POW camps.
In late May 1945 the 66th Division moved again, this time to the Marseille area on the southern coast of France to staff the staging areas in Marseille, Arles, and St. Victoret from which troops were being sent to the war in the Pacific. Once situated near Marseille, the 263rd staffed the St. Victoret staging area and the 262nd and 264th staffed the Arles staging area. The 870th was assigned as an MP unit, the 871st guarded the Miramas Depot, and the 872nd was stationed in Marseille. The 721st became a transportation unit. The 266th Engineer and 366th Medical battalions performed their usual duties. While in the Marseille area the 66th Division constructed a total of eight outdoor motion picture amphitheaters where the GIs were treated to numerous USO shows. Many 66th Division athletic teams played on another on newly constructed athletic fields.
With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, a small part of 66th Division sailed for the US for R&R prior to their re-deployment to the Pacific. Alex was one of these. (The remainder of the men in the 66th Division who did not have enough points to return home was either sent to Delta Base in southern France or to Germany and Austria to serve as occupation forces.)
After he returned home in late October 1945, he moved his family several times around Southside Virginia until they finally settled in Blackstone again to be the editor of the Courier Record. He moved back to Richmond by 1960 to manage publicity for the Southside Plaza Shopping Center and owned Alexander F. Hudgins, Inc., a publicity firm.
He and his beloved Mary were married 58 years and had 5 children. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren and 29 (and still expanding) great-grandchildren.
His intention was to enter seminary for the Episcopal Ministry, but the Depression sent him to work after graduation in 1928. He was a writer for the Richmond News-Leader when he wed Miss Mary Madison Morrison of that same city in 1933. They returned to Blackstone in Nottoway county where he edited and published the Courier Record for several years.
He was drafted into the army in 1942 and served his county in the European Theatre. He was a member of the 66th Division, 266th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was made clerk of the Battalion as he was the only member that could "touch-type" and he maintained the records.
The 66th Division crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944. The majority of the infantry troops were on board the SS Leopoldville and the HMS Cheshire. Just five miles off shore from Cherbourg, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Fourteen officers and seven hundred forty-eight servicemen were lost.
After arriving at Cherbourg the 66th Division regrouped and headed for the L'Orient and St. Nazaire sectors in Brittany to relive the 94th Division which had been guarding the German submarine base pockets that were left after the D-Day invasion. Estimates of the number of German forces left behind in these pockets ran from fifty to one hundred thousand. The 94th division was sent to the Battle of the Bulge. While in Brittany the 66th Division carried out daily reconnaissance patrols along the one hundred and twelve mile front and conducted periodical artillery fire on the pockets of resistance. The artillery fire disabled a number of big German guns and sank numerous re-supply boats. Upon the German surrender on May 8, 1945, the 66th Division moved to the area near Koblenz, Germany for occupation duty and to guard German POW camps.
In late May 1945 the 66th Division moved again, this time to the Marseille area on the southern coast of France to staff the staging areas in Marseille, Arles, and St. Victoret from which troops were being sent to the war in the Pacific. Once situated near Marseille, the 263rd staffed the St. Victoret staging area and the 262nd and 264th staffed the Arles staging area. The 870th was assigned as an MP unit, the 871st guarded the Miramas Depot, and the 872nd was stationed in Marseille. The 721st became a transportation unit. The 266th Engineer and 366th Medical battalions performed their usual duties. While in the Marseille area the 66th Division constructed a total of eight outdoor motion picture amphitheaters where the GIs were treated to numerous USO shows. Many 66th Division athletic teams played on another on newly constructed athletic fields.
With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, a small part of 66th Division sailed for the US for R&R prior to their re-deployment to the Pacific. Alex was one of these. (The remainder of the men in the 66th Division who did not have enough points to return home was either sent to Delta Base in southern France or to Germany and Austria to serve as occupation forces.)
After he returned home in late October 1945, he moved his family several times around Southside Virginia until they finally settled in Blackstone again to be the editor of the Courier Record. He moved back to Richmond by 1960 to manage publicity for the Southside Plaza Shopping Center and owned Alexander F. Hudgins, Inc., a publicity firm.
He and his beloved Mary were married 58 years and had 5 children. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren and 29 (and still expanding) great-grandchildren.
Alexander Fraser Hudgins was born at "Glenwood", the home of the Beville family in Dinwiddie county, Virginia. Being a twin, he arrived prematurely and weighed only 3 pounds, his twin died. His grandmother, Hester Beville Fraser, wrapped him up and settled him 'between her bosoms' to keep him warm. Later, he slept on a silk pillow in her bed. He shared her room until he left for Hampden-Sydney College in 1924.
His intention was to enter seminary for the Episcopal Ministry, but the Depression sent him to work after graduation in 1928. He was a writer for the Richmond News-Leader when he wed Miss Mary Madison Morrison of that same city in 1933. They returned to Blackstone in Nottoway county where he edited and published the Courier Record for several years.
He was drafted into the army in 1942 and served his county in the European Theatre. He was a member of the 66th Division, 266th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was made clerk of the Battalion as he was the only member that could "touch-type" and he maintained the records.
The 66th Division crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944. The majority of the infantry troops were on board the SS Leopoldville and the HMS Cheshire. Just five miles off shore from Cherbourg, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Fourteen officers and seven hundred forty-eight servicemen were lost.
After arriving at Cherbourg the 66th Division regrouped and headed for the L'Orient and St. Nazaire sectors in Brittany to relive the 94th Division which had been guarding the German submarine base pockets that were left after the D-Day invasion. Estimates of the number of German forces left behind in these pockets ran from fifty to one hundred thousand. The 94th division was sent to the Battle of the Bulge. While in Brittany the 66th Division carried out daily reconnaissance patrols along the one hundred and twelve mile front and conducted periodical artillery fire on the pockets of resistance. The artillery fire disabled a number of big German guns and sank numerous re-supply boats. Upon the German surrender on May 8, 1945, the 66th Division moved to the area near Koblenz, Germany for occupation duty and to guard German POW camps.
In late May 1945 the 66th Division moved again, this time to the Marseille area on the southern coast of France to staff the staging areas in Marseille, Arles, and St. Victoret from which troops were being sent to the war in the Pacific. Once situated near Marseille, the 263rd staffed the St. Victoret staging area and the 262nd and 264th staffed the Arles staging area. The 870th was assigned as an MP unit, the 871st guarded the Miramas Depot, and the 872nd was stationed in Marseille. The 721st became a transportation unit. The 266th Engineer and 366th Medical battalions performed their usual duties. While in the Marseille area the 66th Division constructed a total of eight outdoor motion picture amphitheaters where the GIs were treated to numerous USO shows. Many 66th Division athletic teams played on another on newly constructed athletic fields.
With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, a small part of 66th Division sailed for the US for R&R prior to their re-deployment to the Pacific. Alex was one of these. (The remainder of the men in the 66th Division who did not have enough points to return home was either sent to Delta Base in southern France or to Germany and Austria to serve as occupation forces.)
After he returned home in late October 1945, he moved his family several times around Southside Virginia until they finally settled in Blackstone again to be the editor of the Courier Record. He moved back to Richmond by 1960 to manage publicity for the Southside Plaza Shopping Center and owned Alexander F. Hudgins, Inc., a publicity firm.
He and his beloved Mary were married 58 years and had 5 children. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren and 29 (and still expanding) great-grandchildren.
His intention was to enter seminary for the Episcopal Ministry, but the Depression sent him to work after graduation in 1928. He was a writer for the Richmond News-Leader when he wed Miss Mary Madison Morrison of that same city in 1933. They returned to Blackstone in Nottoway county where he edited and published the Courier Record for several years.
He was drafted into the army in 1942 and served his county in the European Theatre. He was a member of the 66th Division, 266th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was made clerk of the Battalion as he was the only member that could "touch-type" and he maintained the records.
The 66th Division crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944. The majority of the infantry troops were on board the SS Leopoldville and the HMS Cheshire. Just five miles off shore from Cherbourg, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Fourteen officers and seven hundred forty-eight servicemen were lost.
After arriving at Cherbourg the 66th Division regrouped and headed for the L'Orient and St. Nazaire sectors in Brittany to relive the 94th Division which had been guarding the German submarine base pockets that were left after the D-Day invasion. Estimates of the number of German forces left behind in these pockets ran from fifty to one hundred thousand. The 94th division was sent to the Battle of the Bulge. While in Brittany the 66th Division carried out daily reconnaissance patrols along the one hundred and twelve mile front and conducted periodical artillery fire on the pockets of resistance. The artillery fire disabled a number of big German guns and sank numerous re-supply boats. Upon the German surrender on May 8, 1945, the 66th Division moved to the area near Koblenz, Germany for occupation duty and to guard German POW camps.
In late May 1945 the 66th Division moved again, this time to the Marseille area on the southern coast of France to staff the staging areas in Marseille, Arles, and St. Victoret from which troops were being sent to the war in the Pacific. Once situated near Marseille, the 263rd staffed the St. Victoret staging area and the 262nd and 264th staffed the Arles staging area. The 870th was assigned as an MP unit, the 871st guarded the Miramas Depot, and the 872nd was stationed in Marseille. The 721st became a transportation unit. The 266th Engineer and 366th Medical battalions performed their usual duties. While in the Marseille area the 66th Division constructed a total of eight outdoor motion picture amphitheaters where the GIs were treated to numerous USO shows. Many 66th Division athletic teams played on another on newly constructed athletic fields.
With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, a small part of 66th Division sailed for the US for R&R prior to their re-deployment to the Pacific. Alex was one of these. (The remainder of the men in the 66th Division who did not have enough points to return home was either sent to Delta Base in southern France or to Germany and Austria to serve as occupation forces.)
After he returned home in late October 1945, he moved his family several times around Southside Virginia until they finally settled in Blackstone again to be the editor of the Courier Record. He moved back to Richmond by 1960 to manage publicity for the Southside Plaza Shopping Center and owned Alexander F. Hudgins, Inc., a publicity firm.
He and his beloved Mary were married 58 years and had 5 children. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren and 29 (and still expanding) great-grandchildren.
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