Alfred John Arntzen was born September 13, 1893 in St. Paul, Minnisota. Both of his parents were originally from Norway. He was inducted in the Army on February 26, 1918 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. His outfit embarked from Camp Mills, Long Island in May, 1918 and arrived in England shortly thereafter.
The 30th went into action in Ypres in July, 1918. Pvt. Arntzen was gassed September 26, 1918 in the Somme. He left France and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina on March 27, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Dodge on May 13, 1919.
In 1920, he was living at home with his parents, and in 1930, he was living as a border in St. Paul. He died in Los Angeles on January 29, 1964, and is buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery Section 129, Row Y, Site 5.
Pvt. Arntzen's group includes his officially engraved WW1 Purple Heart edge numbered 42639, its ribbon, and a convention ribbon that reads "Last 18 Men's Banquet Military Order of the Purple Heart February 22, 1938". Paperwork includes a copy of Arntzen's Military Service Record from Minnesota, and copies of internet research.
