ND Veterans Affairs News: State

born Krem, ND 9 Jan 19; resident Mercer County, ND; entered AUS Ft Lawton, Washington 3 Jul 40; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; KIA 1 Apr 43 North Africa; buried in Lot 78, Grave 4, Section 7, St Mathew's Lutheran Cemetery, Hazen, ND.

born Pullman, Washington 12 Mar 18; resident Traill County, ND; entered AUS Ft Benning, GA 26 Mar 43; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; KIA 23 May 44 Italy.

Wenzel Picha was born in North Creek, Wisconsin. He moved with his parents to Sweet Briar, North Dakota as a small child. Later in life, he was engaged in Farming and was employed by Northern Pacific Railroad at Sweet Briar.

Pvt. Wenzel Picha served with honor. He had enlisted in the Army and entered service in Mandan on April 23, 1941. He completed Basic Training at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. Private Picha was sent to Guadalcanal on March 19, 1942. Pvt. Picha experienced a traumatic event while serving in the Battle of Guadalcanal which ultimately resulted in loss of life.

born New Leipzig, ND 21 Apr 15; resident Grant County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 19 Aug 41; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; KIA 23 Nov 42 Guadalcanal; buried in Grave 332, Section B, Ft Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN.

born Mandan, ND 23 Feb 25; resident Morton County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 6 Jun 43; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; KIA 2 May 45 Borneo; buried in Grave 119-120, Section E, Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.

born Alexander, ND 12 Oct 19; resident Barnes County, ND; entered AUS Valley City, ND 10 Feb 41; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; died in service 7 Jun 44 Asiatic area; buried in Saint Catherines Cemetery, Valley City, ND.

born Hannah, ND 19 Sep 15; resident Walsh County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 16 Jun 42; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; KIA 19 Nov 44 France; buried in East Section of St Peter's Cemetery, Adams, ND.

born Dickinson, ND 21 Jan 16; resident Stark County, ND; entered US Navy Mpls, MN 4 Jan 38; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; died in service 1 Mar 44 Philadelphia, Pa; buried in Block B, Lot W 1/2 of 7, Grave 6, Dickinson Cemetery, Dickinson, ND.

born Sherwood, ND 6 Feb 13; resident Renville County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 11 Nov 42; died in service 17 Jun 43 Chandler, Ariz; buried in Plot 6-130 West, Grave 6, Sherwood Union Cemetery, Sherwood, ND.

Robert Barry Peterson was born Minot, Ward County, North Dakota on June 26, 1923, to P.H. (Henry) and Rose Peterson. He entered the United States Navy in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 9, 1943.  He married Lucille Janet Walsh on March 3, 1945. Ensign Peterson died in service on June 19, 1946, in Norfolk, Virginia and is buried in Block 51, Grave 21, Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, North Dakota.