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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., June 8, 1944, page 1

POSTHUMOUS AWARD GOES TO GANGUIN
Henry L. Stimson Sends Personal Letter To Parents; Purple Heart Is Being Sent; First Goldendale Casualty

Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, sent the following letter to John Ganguin, Goldendale, father of Private Alvin A. Ganguin, Air Corps, who was first reported missing in action on May 7, 1942 in action in the Philippine Islands following the fall of Cerregidor.
My dear Mr. Ganguin:
At the request of the President, I write to inform you that the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to your son, Private Alvin A. Ganguin, Air Corps, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country.
Little that we can do or say will console you for the death of your loved one. We profoundly appreciate the greatness of your loss, for in a very real sense the loss suffered by any of us in this battle for our country, is a loss shared by all of us. When the medal, which you will shortly receive, reaches you, I want you to know that with it goes my sincerest sympathy, and the hope that time and the victory of our cause will finally lighten the burden of your grief.

Sincerely yours,
Henry L. Stimson

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., June 14, 1945, page 1

WAR DEPARTMENT SAYS ALVIN GANGUIN DIED MAY 26, 1942

According to information received from the War Department by Mr. and Mrs. John Ganguin, Goldendale, their son, Pvt. Alvin A. Ganguin, who had been serving with the Air Corp in the Philippines, died May 26, 1942 from dysentery. The War Department had previously listed his death as May 8, 1944. No details were given regarding from what source they had obtained information of the 22-year-old youths death.
Ganguin enlisted in the service in January, 1941 and was sent overseas in September, 1941. The only letter Mr. and Mrs. Ganguin had received from their son was when he left San Francisco for the war zone.
Alvin was well known in Goldendale, having lived with his parents on their ranch in the Pleasant Valley section since his birth. He graduated from Goldendale high school in 1939.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., May 24, 1945, page 1

MEMORIAL SERVICES TO BE HELD HERE
Thomas D. Potwin, Editor Of Yakima Herald, Will Speak At Morning Program At 10:30 In High School Auditorium

Memorial services will be held in Goldendale Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the high school auditorium. As in the past, the program and services are in charge of Louis Leidl Post No. 116, American Legion. Thomas D. Potwin, editor of the Yakima Herald will deliver the message at the high school. Potwin is said to be an able speaker, and the largest crowd ever to attend Memorial services is expected to turn out to hear the Yakima editor.
Following the program at the high school, members of the Legion will hold a brief ceremony at the graves of veterans of both World War I and II. A firing squad will fire a salute in recognition of their departed comrades.
E.C. Kaiser, commander of the American Legion, invites and urges all residents to join in the services, which will pay tribute to the men who have lost their lives in both wars.
Following is a list of men from this county who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II: E.C. Allison, Wm. Becker, Fred Berrong, Marion Bolio, Homer Bilyeu, Jim Brashear, Robert Brown, Chas. Byrkett, David Cochran, Paul Cochran, John Dickey, Francis Ford, Alvin Ganguin, Don Heuton, John Hunsaker, Robert Hutchins, Harry Jones, Harold Lehman, Philip Lynch, Chas. Lowers, Dan Roe, Oren Sanders, George Shurtz, Harry Smith, Marion Scheel, Eugene White, Thomas Tradewell, Jim Trowbridge, Edward Thege and David Woodruff.