Private First Class Alvarez was a member of the Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while engaged with the enemy in Korea on 6 June 1951.

Alvarez was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.