Alvin Lee Marts was born on 4 August 1923 at Wilsonville, Nebraska. He enlisted in the Navy at Denver, Colorado on 2 July 1941. He served on and survived its following the Battle of Midway. Transferred to he served as a fireman, second class. Early in the Battle of Tassafaronga, "New Orleans" took a torpedo hit in its port bow which exploded two magazines and blew off the forward part of the ship back to No. 2 turret. Assigned to the forward battle repair party, Marts was gravely injured by the blast and fires. However he assisted in carrying an injured medical officer to the battle dressing station amidships where he collapsed from loss of blood and exhaustion. He died from his wounds shortly afterward. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.