Avery Allen Humphries was born on January 21, 1921, in the small town of Alexandria, Indiana a place that would always remain at the heart of his life. Raised with a strong work ethic and deep-rooted values of family, faith and service, Avery grew up during the Great Depression and came of age just as the world was being drawn into a second great war.
Call of cuty
By 1942, as the war intensified overseas, Avery answered the nation’s call and joined the United States Army. He became part of the 320 Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel B.A. Byrne. The 320th was activated at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, on Jan. 28, 1943. Formed from a cadre of the 13 1st Infantry sent from Fort Brady, Michigan and from men transferred from the 134th and 137th, the 320th became the youngest third of the triangular, streamlined 35th Division. While the details of those combat months often went unspoken, his service was quietly reflected in the gravity of his gaze and the quiet discipline that stayed with him all his life.
A powerful moment of personal history came on June 6, 1944 - D-Day - the day Allied forces began their landing on the beaches of Normandy. That same day, across the ocean back home in Indiana, Avery’s life changed in another profound way: his first son was born. As Avery stepped onto foreign soil on July 6th 1944 (exactly one month after D-Day) in the service of freedom, he had already stepped into fatherhood marking that day with both history and hope.
Returning home
After the war, Avery returned to Alexandria, trading the mud of Europe for the familiar soil of Indiana. But his commitment to service didn’t end with the war. He joined the Indiana Army National Guard, this time with the 38th Infantry Division and rose through the ranks to become a Captain a testament to his leadership, dedication and steady character. Avery always carried a piece of schrapnel from a German 88 gun in his foot.
Civilian life
In civilian life, Avery became a supervisor at the Johns Manville plant in Alexandria. To his coworkers, he was a dependable and respected presence. To his community, he was a quiet pillar. And to his family, he was steady and strong a man who had seen the worst of war but built a life marked by love, resilience and quiet integrity.
Death
Avery Allen Humphries passed away on May 5, 1999, but his story lives on in the legacy he left behind in the lives of his children, in the values he instilled and in the freedom he helped preserve. He was one of many who did their duty without seeking recognition, a hometown hero whose courage was matched only by his humility.
Information provided by Avery's son Phillip A. Humphries
