George Edward Allen was born on May 22, 1921, in Sutter Creek, Amador County, California. He was the son of George Allen and Vera Marie Bhend Allen. He was married to Janet Lovelace Allen. He graduated from Sutter Creek High School and went on to study at the College of Agriculture in Davis, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 10, 1943, at the Presidio of Monterey as a corporal, later serving with the 315th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division—known as the “Cross of Lorraine” Division—where he rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant during World War II. The 315th landed in Normandy on June 14, 1944, as part of the American VII Corps.

Following the liberation of Cherbourg, the division continued its advance across France. In November 1944, the 79th Division was tasked with driving through the Vosges Mountains to seize Sarrebourg and open the Saverne Gap, a key route toward Strasbourg. Beginning their attack on November 13, the 314th and 315th Regiments spearheaded the assault, engaging in intense fighting as they pushed German forces from heavily fortified positions.

During this campaign, on November 15, 1944, Lieutenant Allen was killed by a mortar fragment near Sainte-Pôle in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France. His remains were returned home in 1948 and interred at the Odd Fellow Cemetery in Sutter Creek, California.

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