Alphonse C. Russell entered the military service in Alambama. He resided in Mobile County, Alabama prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on April 4, 1941, prior to the war, at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a private family servant and also as Single, without dependents. Alphonse served as a First Sergeant, 76th Engineer Light Pontoon Company, U.S. Army during World War II.

Alphonse was a passenger on C-47A #43-30640. He was declared "Missing In Action" when this C-47A, while on an Air Supply trip between Shinbweyang Air Port, Myanmar and Myitkyina Airport, Myanmar, went missing during the war. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

1Sgt Russell 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 and ranked as a Second Lieutenant.

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