Army Badge
  • Name: John "Jack" Michael McAlpine
  • Location of Birth: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: September 22, 1926
  • Date of Death: KIA - October 25, 1951 in North Korea
  • Parents: Michael McAlpine & Cora (Wassberg) McAlpine
  • High School and Class: 1944 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College: 1950 University of California, Los Angeles, California
  • Highest Rank: 2ND LT (Second Lieutenant)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: February 1, 1944
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge:
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:
    Purple Heart

  • Military Highlights:
    Newspaper article: 1944 – “Cadet Jack McAlpine of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he is attending Coe College, is spending his furlough with his mother, Mrs. Cora McAlpine.”

    World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
    Name: John M. McAlpine
    Race: White
    Marital status: Single, without dependents (single)
    Rank: Private
    Birth Year: 1926
    Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
    Citizenship: Citizen
    Residence: Itasca, Minnesota
    Education: 4 years of high school
    Enlistment Date: January 5, 1945
    Enlistment Place: Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
    Branch: Infantry
    Component: Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corp on active duty under the Thomason Act (Officers, Nurses and Enlisted Men O.R.C. & I.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)
    Source: Enlisted Reserve or Medical Administration Corps (MAC) Officer
    Height: 60
    Weight: 686

    Newspaper article: July 1945 – “From Fort Benning, Ga. comes the news that Pvt. John M. McAlpine, son of Mrs. Cora McAlpine of Marble, has won the right to wear the “Boots and Wings” of the United States Army Paratroops. He has completed four weeks of jump training during which time he made five jumps, including a tactical jump at night involving a combat problem on landing.”

    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: California
    Name: John Michael McAlpine
    Race: White
    Age: 20
    Birth Date: September 22, 1926
    Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
    Registration Date: December 30, 1946
    Employer: Discharged from service 10/31/1946
    Weight: 150
    Height: 5-10
    Complexion: Light
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Brown
    Other characteristic: Small scar on rt. forearm
    Next of Kin: Mrs. Cora Imbertson, mother, Los Angeles, CA


  • Wars Involved:
    World War II
    Korean War

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Jack McAlpine married Shirley Lehto in 1948 in California. Lt. McAlpine, a former resident of Marble, Minnesota, was recalled to active duty in the fall of 1950 after his graduation from the University of California at Los Angeles.

    Jack was reported KIA in North Korea on October 25, 1951. Burial was made February 29, 1952, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California (Liberty Section, Lot 2258, Space 4). He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Kathleen Lois; his mother Mrs. Cora Imbertson; and a sister, Mrs. Robert Oftelie.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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