re: The box and Death Valley is there anywhere else with that type of atmosphere

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There have to have been many student athletes killed in war. Did he get a Medal of Honor or something else to distinguish him over the others?

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Lieutenant Box - a platoon leader - used a half-track to destroy enemy machine guns emplacements that were blocking the 1st Infantry’s advance. For his extraordinary heroism he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross - the second highest military decoration of the US Army.

The following year Alex was fighting German forces in Tunisia. In February 1943, Field Marshall Rommel launched an all-out attack against the American forces at Kasserine. Alex Box was involved in laying minefields and preparing road blocks, when, on February 19, a mine was accidently discharged. He was killed instantly, along with four other soldiers. He is buried at Plot I, Row 5, Grave 1 in the North African American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.

"The deeds and death of your son have gone to make up the spiritual background that is this country," wrote Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt - at the time second in command of the 1st Infantry Division - in a letter of condolence to Box's mother, Mattie Box. - See more at: https://www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com/biographies/box_alex.html#sthash.imc9gthr.dpuf

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