James Raymond Alfonte was born on Dec. 7, 1886 in Fortville, Indiana. He attended Purdue University, then was commissioned in the U.S. Army Infantry in October 1911. He participated in the Punitive Expedition to Mexico in 1916 under General Pershing. Later that year he was ordered to the newly-formed Signal Corps Aviation School on San Diego’s North Island to train as a student pilot. During his training he was involved in at least one crash on the beach at Encinitas. Upon receiving his wings in 1917 he was transferred to Camp Kelly in San Antonio to form and command the 28th Aero Squadron. This unit is still in service today as the 28th Bomb Squadron, part of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Following this assignment, Alfonte was made the commanding officer at Call Field in Wichita Falls. After World War I, Alfonte saw extensive duty with the Quartermaster Corps between 1921 and 1945. He graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1930, the Army Industrial College in 1932 and the Army War College in 1938. He was Quartermaster of the Infantry School from 1938 until 1942, when he was promoted to Brigadier General. From 1943-1945 he was the Commanding General of the New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Army Services Depot. He held the same position at the Utah Army Service Forces Depot from 1945-1946. He retired in 1946 and died on Feb. 8, 1951. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.