Alvin Patrick Palecek was born on March 17, 1922. He was the son of Joseph Palecek and Rosina Seffern Palecek. He resided in Winnebago County, Wisconsin prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Farm Hand and also as Single, without dependents. Alvin served as a Corporal and Radio Operator on C-46A "Stork" #42-96721, 1333rd Army Air Force Base Unit, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

C-46A #42-96721 took off, with a crew of 4 and 9 passengers, from Kunming, China on a cargo mission to Chabua, India. They were last contacted by radio and after that were not seen nor heard from again. It was noted that along the route planes were experiencing severe icing. Alvin was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

Cpl Palacek was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov