Alma Guerard
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: United States Marine Corps
Serial: 765205
Entered the service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Section C, Site 3131, Woodlawn National Cemetery, 1825 Davis Street, Elmira NY 14901
Introduction
Private First Class Alma Florence Guerard was born in New York City in 1920 to Joseph Guerard and Florence Kemp Guerard. Her father was French-Canadian, and worked as a musician. When Alma Guerard was born the family, which included mother-in-law Lillian Kemp, lived at 1417 Lexington Avenue in New York City. By the time of the 1930 census Alma Guerard and her grandmother were living at 1720 43rd Street in Pennsauken NJ, with Alma Guerard’s maternal aunts, Ruth and Greta Kemp, who both worked as secretaries for a local tool manufacturing business. Alma Guerard graduated from Merchantville High School in 1938, where she had been a member of the girl’s field hockey team. She had been voted the most bashful girl by her fellow classmates.
Alma Guerard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in early 1944. In April she was sent for training to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina to serve with an aviation unit as an automotive mechanic. She fell ill and was sent to the Sampson Naval Hospital in upstate New York. In March 1945, the Sampson Naval Station hospital was selected as the eastern tuberculosis center for Navy personnel.
Private First Class Guerard died on August 11, 1945. She was survived by her Aunt Ruth, of the 43rd Street address. She was buried with military honors at the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira NY.
Alma Guerard is memorialized on the monument at the Delaware Gardens Fire Company in Pennsauken NJ.