Alvin Robert Weiss, class of 1940, served as a bombardier-navigator in the 409th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force during World War II. For his participation in hazardous tactical missions over Germany, he earned the Air Medal for meritorious achievement.

On his thirteenth mission, his group's plane was damaged by enemy fire and an internal explosion. The pilot attempted to land on an emergency landing field in Belgium. However, the field was unsuitable for such a landing, forcing the crew to bail out of the plane when both its engines went dead. Weiss returned to his base the next day, and returned to duty immediately.