Alfred M. Utecht was born on July 2, 1914 in Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Johnstown High School and Baltimore University, he worked in the post-office at New Kensington before entering the service in August 1942. He had been overseas for only two months. He was given training as a bombardier at Homestead, Fla.; Sioux Falls. S. D., and Oakland, Cal.

Alfred was killed in action in the Asiatic Area, when his plane which he was a Radio Operator was shot down January 31, 1944 at the age of 29. He is now buried in the Grafton National Cemetery, Grafton, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. Pvt Utecht was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: Newspaper clip from www.findagrave.com