3206th Quartermaster Service Company
US Army
Alvin Eldred Aid
Service No.: 37503126
Ship Assignment: USS LST-531
ABMC Memorial Page: Click Here
Alvin Eldred Aid was born on May 6, 1923, in the small town of New Market, nestled in Taylor County, Iowa. He was the beloved son of Roy Stillman Aid and Wilma Beatrice Norman Aid.
Growing up in rural Iowa, Alvin attended two years of high school, where he developed skills and interests that would shape his future.
Before enlisting, Alvin married and worked as a semiskilled metal worker. His life, though brief, was filled with hard work and dedication both to his family and his craft.
Military Service
Alvin enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 1, 1943, at Ft Leavenworth, Kansas. He joined the 3206th Quartermaster Service Company, and became a Private First Class.
Alvin’s unit was responsible for essential logistics and support, ensuring that front-line troops had the supplies they needed. Unfortunately, his service was cut short during Exercise Tiger, a critical training operation for the D-Day landings. Alvin was aboard the USS LST-531 when it was attacked by German e-boats, leading to his untimely death, just a few days before his 21st birthday, on April 28, 1944.
Honours and Memorials
Private First Class Alvin E. Aid’s body was never recovered, earning him the designation of ‘Missing in Action.’ Despite this, his memory lives on through various memorials and honours:
- Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge, England;
- A cenotaph memorial stands in his honour at Memory Cemetery, Page County, Iowa, USA (MEMORIAL ID: 70395179).
- Alvin is listed in the American Memorial Chapel Roll of Honour at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Alvin was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, recognising his bravery and sacrifice.
Alvin Eldred Aid remains a symbol of dedication, courage, and the ultimate sacrifice in the face of war. His legacy endures, reminding us of the high cost of freedom and the valour of those who have served. His story is a poignant chapter in the annals of history, and a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fight for their country.
