In Memory of Alvin Martin Labens, 99th Infantry Division

Alvin Martin Labens passed away Sunday night, January 25, 2015. He was born November 28th, 1923 to Harry and Lillian Hochstein Labens. In his formative years, he participated in the Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Clarksdale High School where he was a member of the band and graduated in 1941. He attended LSU majoring in forestry and was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi social fraternity.

After the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army reserve and was called to duty May of 1943. After completing basic training, he was placed in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) and returned to LSU to study engineering.

When ASTP was terminated in March of 1944, he was transferred to the 99th Infantry Division at Camp Maxey, TX. In September the 99th Division embarked for England and in November was moved to the Belgium-German border.

On December 17, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, his company was attacked by two German regiments. During the "orderly" withdrawal he and two other enlisted men were separated from their company, which had been diminished from over 200 men to just 18. He was hospitalized in March and when the war ended in May, he opted for an honorable discharge in 1946. He joined in the Merchant Marines and worked his way back to the United States. His military citations included the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct medal, European Theater medal with three stars and Victory medal.

He returned to LSU for a year before transferring to Southern College of Optometry in Memphis where he met Rebecca "Becky" Novick. They were married April 1, 1951. He maintained his optometry practice in Clarksdale, MS for 47 years before retiring to Memphis, TN.

He was an active in the Lions Club, the Exchange Club, and was a member and secretary for the Coahoma County Conservation League for 37 years, as well as a member of Masonic Lodge 286. He served as president for B'nai Brith Temple Israel. He was an outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing and the peace and companionship those activities provided. He loved his family and was never happier than when everyone was gathered together.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, whose smile would brighten his day when his pain was constant; brothers Maurice and his wife Charlotte, and Malcolm; son Steven Labens, his wife Cathy; son Darryl Labens, his wife Mary; and daughter Valarie Labens, who did so much for him, and her partner Tom Ligon; granddaughters, Leila Labens, Lanie Labens and Lili Labens.