Grave marker for Alfred L. Hess in the  East Lawn Elk Grove Memorial Park, Elk Grove (Sacramento county), California.

Alfred enlisted in the Army at Sacramento, CA on 10 September 1942.  The fact that he volunteered for parachutist duty coupled with the timing of the 508th PIR activation 10 days later was an automatic fit and he was assigned to Company G.

On 16 November 1943, only 14 months since he enlisted, he wore the rank of Sergeant and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. 

Sgt Hess was also awarded the Bronze Service Arrowhead device for action during the Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July 1944

it isn't known whether he saw action in the Holland Campaign but he did go into action again in the Battle of The Bulge where he was severely wounded on 26 December 1944.  He was probably lying in a prone position when he was hit.

In his own words, "When the bullet struck me, to the left of my nose, it came down knocking out three of my upper teeth, before going through my lower lip and opening a wide gash to the bottom of my chin."

He was awarded the Purple Heart for this wound.