Alexander Gelver (1914-1938) was an American defector to the Soviet Union who was taken there by his parents. Gelver was originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At 24 years old, he wanted to return to the United States. He was stopped by Soviet police outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. On New Year's Day 1938 he was executed. In 1997 it was learned that he was executed by the secret police in 1938.