PFC Alfred Vincent Ransom

courtesy of Davwingman

PFC Alfred Vincent Ransom was born 11 Nov 1911 in Grant county, Kentucky. He was the oldest of the 2 children and only son of Alvador P. and Ella Mae (Spellman) Ransom. His father worked at various jobs including as a bartender, tobacconist, farm hand and day laborer. The family moved to California in the mid-1920s where Alvador had been working in San Francisco and Tulare county since 1919. Alvador died in 1937. Alfred had only been able to complete 1 year of high school.
Alfred went to work as farm labor reporting a 1939 income of $400 and his mother brought in $100 from an unknown source. The family was paying $12 a month rent for the home at 408 J Street in Porterville, California. Fortunately, Alfred's sister and her husband lived with them increasing the household income by $1200.

Alfred was drafted in March 1941. PFC Ransom was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 5 Jul 1944. He was immediately transferred to C Company as the battalion cross-leveled to adjust for combat losses. He was wounded on 6 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. Initially thought to be slightly wounded, PFC Ransom died of his wound(s) on 19 Jul 1944.

PFC Ransom was repatriated and re-interred in Home of Peace Cemetery in Porterville, California.