Auger, Alvin Bernard, MSG

Honoring Al Auger’s Service

Funeral services with full military honors for Alvin Bernard Auger, 78, of Palestine were at noon Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home Chapel. The family received condolences from 11 a.m. to noon prior to the service. Mr. Auger died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He was born Aug. 10, 1931, in West Warwick, RI, to Leroy and Eva Lachappelle Auger. Mr. Auger was raised as a Roman Catholic in Rhode Island with a childhood full of clambakes and family. He was a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant and Green Beret having served 24 years with two tours in Korea, six in Vietnam, and two in the Dominican Republic. He graduated from the Monterrey Defense Language Institute and was a private pilot. He was an operations and intelligence sergeant on a Special Forces Operational Detachment (A Team) having served in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 10th Special Forces Groups (Airborne). His assignments also included White Star mobile training team, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute ROTC, Special Forces adviser to the Saudi Arabian Airborne Forces, and active duty adviser to Florida Special Forces Reserve and National Guard units. His military awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (6th Award), Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Laos) (Dominican Republic), Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award) Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal. After retiring, he worked as a defense and telephony contractor. He moved to Palestine in 1995 and enjoyed raising rabbits with his wife near Brushy Creek.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Geri Auger, in July 2009. Mr. Auger is survived by two sons, John Auger and Joseph Auger; two daughters, Melissa Auger and Diane Jones; two brothers, Roy Auger and Eddie Auger; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; cousin, Leola Curan; and fiancé, Evelyn Laird. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Dallas Chapter XXXI of the Special Forces Association, Jerry Jochum, Ron Fory, Ben Lyons, Jim Ames, Gene Pugh, Charlie Barksdale and Paul Herrington. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kan. 66675-8517 (a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization).