Alex Filomeno was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division, pictured above, which is the most highly decorated battalion in the history of the US Marine Corps.

Alex Garcia Filomeno was born in Salinas, California, on March 17, 1928, to Mr. and Mrs. Alex G. Filomeno. Young Alex, along with his brother Robert and sisters Helen and Esther, was raised in the Pajaro Valley and attended local schools. Filomeno enrolled in Salinas Union High School but left before graduating.

In 1946 Alex enlisted in the US Marine Corps. While serving with the Marines, he continued his studies and received his Salinas High School diploma in 1948. On March 4, 1949, Filomeno was discharged from the marines and immediately re-enlisted.

In June 1950 Private First Class Filomeno was assigned as a rifleman in Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. In July, E Company shipped out aboard the transport USS George Clymer that was quickly dubbed "Greasy George" when it arrived in Pusan Korean on August 2, 1950.

During the Korean War, Alex Filomeno and his unit were exposed to numerous combat engagements. They assisted in holding the Pusan perimeter, participated at the famous landing at Inchon and fought at places called No Name Ridge, Naktong Bulge and hills merely identified by numbers. Their grueling experience at the Chosin Reservoir earned them a place in Marine Corps history. Robert Highland, a fellow 'E' company member, shares what Alex Filomeno experienced at that famous location,
“At the Reservoir on November 27th, and 28th, of 1950, all hell broke loose as the Chinese Army hit us with 120 Thousand Troops, we the Marines numbered fifteen thousand. This was nine enemy Divisions against one Marine Division. My platoon led by Second Lieutenant Jack Nolan was right in the middle of their charge, somehow our company held that charge and later it was to be named after our company "Easy Alley." During the breakout from the reservoir the 2nd Bn. 5th Marines was given the rear guard.”

After fighting their way out of the Chosin area, E company moved to the Masan area where they were engaged at the battles of Hwachon and the Hook before being placed in reserve.

On September 13, the battalion was ordered to take part in Operation Windmill in the Punchbowl Sector of South Korea. In fighting at that location on September 17, 1951, Private First Class Alex Garcia Filomeno was killed in action. His body was buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Bruno. Included among his awards are the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

(ABMC; USDVA; Robert Highland, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, USMC http://members.aol.com/famjustin/Highlandbio.html, [16 Sept 2008]; WRP October 1, 1951 1:4, December 26, 1951 1:5)