Sullivan Alois

Sullivan Alois of Schenectady is a former Captain in the United States Army who served in combat during the Vietnam War and in the Dominican Republic.

Captain Alois was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and was wounded in 1965 while fighting in the Dominican Republic revolution during Operation Power Pack, receiving his first Purple Heart. He served in the Vietnam War from February 1968 to February 1969. For the first six months of his service in Vietnam, Captain Alois was with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. After receiving Special Forces Advanced Operations and Techniques Training, he served the second six months of his deployment in Vietnam as a member of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV).  As a MACV Mobile Advisory Team Leader, Captain Alois was part of a Special Forces unit that lived with and trained a South Vietnamese rifle company.

Captain Alois received his second Purple Heart while serving in Vietnam. He also received the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, Air Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, New York State Cross for Conspicuous Service and Gallantry, and the Vietnam Veterans’ Presidential Citation for Outstanding Community Service from President Jimmy Carter.

A lifelong resident of Schenectady, after the Vietnam War, Captain Alois returned home to a career as a science teacher in the Schenectady City School District, including serving as a principal at Schenectady High School. He has traveled to six continents, 55 countries and 48 states.

Captain Alois is married and has three daughters, with a grandchild on the way.