Command SGM James (Buddy) Alligood Jr. (Ret) of Eastman Ga. age 82, passed away on Tuesday October 23, 2018 at Serenity Place in Dublin Ga.
Funeral services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2018 at Andersonville National Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 til 8 p.m., Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Hardy-Towns Funeral Home.
Command SGM Alligood began his distinguished career as a soldier in the US Army as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell Kentucky. In 1966 he was assigned to the 403rd SOD, 3rd SFGA at Ft. Bragg. He was a Team Sergeant. In September of 1966 he was deployed to Vietnam.While deployed to Vietnam he was in remote areas where the intelligence he gathered was deemed vital to the war effort. Command SGM Alligood went on to serve two tours in Vietnam where he was an operation Sargeant and SGM of the U.S. Army Special Forces Unit 5th Special Forces Vietnam. After leaving Vietnam he was assigned as Command SGM to the 307th Army Security Agency Battalion Ludwigsburg Germany.He was also assigned to 401st SOD, 8th SFGA in Panama as the Sergeant Major.
During his distinguished career, Command SGM Alligood earned the following decoration: Civil Action Honor Medal (1st Class), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Metal with V for Valor and 4 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Metal, Army Commendation Metal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Metal, Valor Union Award Presidential Unit Citation, Master Parachutist Badge, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, 4 overseas Service Bars, 7 Service Stripes. While deployed to Vietnam he was in remote areas where the intelligence he gathered was deemed vital to the war effort.
Following his career in the army he worked at RAFB for 16 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Buddy made numerous trips with friends to Florida but primarily, fishing was limited to the Ocmulgee River in Georgia.
Command SGM Alligood is survived by his three children; James (Nanette) Alligood of Fort Valley, Diane Stuckey of Eastman, and Melanie Alligood of Layton, Utah. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren; Clint (Jessica) Alligood, Kayci (Bennett) Unsworth, Kristin Hester, Kelly Harrell, Tom Harrell and 6 great grandchildren.
Buddy was born in Dodge County to James E. Alligood and Mary Will (Wright) Alligood on June 8, 1936. He attended Dodge County Schools in Giddens, Eastman and Chauncey. He married Frankie Graham on December 21, 1957 in Telfair County. He is a member New Daniels Baptist Church.
Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of arrangements. www.hardy-towns.com