Kenneth Edward Alvord was born November 4, 1916 in Camden, NY to Charles Alvord (1883-1976) and Alta Louise Helmer (1889-1957). His parents were married abt. 1913.* He had an older brother Harold. His dad was from Jamesville, NY and his mom was from Battle Creek, Michigan. His dad was a farmer. Kenneth grew up in Camden and was a Boy Scout and honor student. He graduated from Camden High School in 1934 and was reported in the local newspaper as having "no special plans" after graduation. He attended Rome Collegiate Center in nearby Rome, NY where he passed their exams in Chemistry, Psychology and English receiving college credit for each. In November 1936 he joined the Williams Personal Stationery Shop and later worked for General Cable Corporation in Rome, NY.

He registered for the draft in October 1940 in Sherrill, NY. He was 5'-10" tall and weighed 145 pounds. He had blue eyes and brown hair. When war came to America, Kenneth enlisted in the Air Corps as a cadet on September 18, 1942 through Syracuse, NY with service number 12167026. He reported being single and as having completed one year of college. That May (1943) he reported to Gulfport Field, Mississippi for training as an airplane mechanic. In October 1943 he graduated and was transferred to Harlingen Army Air Field for Gunnery school. (At the end of that October he was admitted to the hospital on the 28th and considered "sick". He was released on November 2 and was well enough to go back to duty.) In December 1943 he graduated from Gunnery school, was promoted to Sgt. and transferred to Hammer Field, Fresno, California. He was able to get home on furlough before reporting to his next station Tonapah Bombing and Gunnery Range, Nevada. It was there he was assigned to a bomber crew.

He flew to Italy in April 1944 and began flying combat missions out of Giulia #1 Airfield with the 758th. While there, he was awarded the Air Medal for "acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. " On May 28, 1944 the 758th Bomb Squadron's eleven planes took off to participate in the bombing of the marshalling yards at Verchelli, Italy. Lt. Hugh D. Graham, taking off on his first mission as a first pilot, crashed on take off, killing eight of the crew and seriously wounding the other two. Sgt. Alvord was one of those killed. The Missing Air Crew Report stated that eight of the ten crew members aboard a B-24H #42-78233 were killed when the plane crashed at take off from Giulia #1 Airfield in Italy and burst into flames.

In October 1946 a newly remodeled church in his hometown dedicated their services to the World War II Fallen from Camden and played their new chimes for the first time in their honor. Sgt. Alvord was one of their fallen. In November 1948 his body is returned home aboard the USAT Lawrence Victory and his is buried in the Forest park Cemetery, Camden, NY.

*The year of his parent's marriage is estimated from the fact that on the 1930 US Census Charles was 46 and Alta 40. They reported being married when they were 29 and 23 respectively.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

"Body of Kenneth Alvord Returned Here for Burial", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, NY, November 10, 1948, pg. 1

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12174227/kenneth_edward-alvord: accessed August 30, 2025), memorial page for Kenneth Edward Alvord (4 Nov 1916–28 May 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 12174227, citing Forest Park Cemetery, Camden, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Mark Peebles (contributor 46514135).

Fold3, US, World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946 : accessed Aug 30, 2025), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946

Hillin, Robert W., 1st Lt. Air Corps, Squadron Historian. “War Diary of 758th Bomb Squadron (H).” Historical Records, 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 304th Wing, 15th Air Force, U.S. Army, 10 June 1944. Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Reel B0607, Microfilm 1196-1203. Transcribed for the web at https://williamvansickle.com/459th/may-1944/war-diary-758th-squadron-may-1944/, accessed on August 31, 2025.

Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) 1942-1947, War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General. Memorial Division. Identification Branch. ca. 1942-ca. 1947, National Archives, St. Louis, MI.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

"Our Soldier Boys with Uncle Sam", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y., Feb. 25, 1943

"Our Soldier Boys with Uncle Sam", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y., May 20, 1943

"Our Soldier Boys with Uncle Sam", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y., Dec. 9, 1943

"Our Soldier Boys with Uncle Sam", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y., Dec. 23, 1943, pg. 8

"Sgt. Alvord Is Killed in Italy", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y. June 15, 1944, pg. 1

"United Church Will Dedicate Remodeled Building as Permanent Home on Sunday", Camden Advance-Journal, Camden, N.Y., Oct. 3, 1946, pg. 1

Year: 1920; Census Place: Camden, Oneida, New York; Roll: T625_1242; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 61

Year: 1930; Census Place: Camden, Oneida, New York; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0176; FHL microfilm: 2341354

Year: 1940; Census Place: Camden, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02700; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 33-13

Supporting Documents