During WWII Alvarado served with the Army's 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion. He survived the greatest sea disaster of WWII on November 26, 1943, but there were 1,138 victims that did not survive the German air missile attack while aboard the British transport ship the His Majesty Transport (HMT) Rohna, which sank into the Mediterranean Sea. The HMT Rohna sinking incident was finally recognied by the US Congress on October 2000. See www.senate.gov Resolution 408. Alvarado re-enlisted, graduated from Leadership School, and became a Jumpmaster in the 82nd Airborne. Alvarado is a Life Member of the American GI Forum of the US, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2797, and the Disable American Veterans. He is the father of 8 children, 24 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.