State Heroes

Electrician's Mate Second Class Steve L. Lesmeister

Harvey, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

A native of Selz, North Dakota. Killed in action on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii while serving aboard the battleship USS Arizona.

Seaman First Class Earl Nermoe

Upham, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

Navy Seaman 1C Class Earl Nermoe was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia that was hit by two bombs and at least seven torpedoes from Japanese airplanes on Dec. 7, 1941.

Gunner's Mate Third Class John M. Emery

Gardner, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Electrician's Mate Third Class Glen E. Nicholson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died in MIA status. Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains Not recovered. 

Machinist's Mate Second Class Claire R. Brier

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Pearl Harbor.

Seaman First Class Leslie H. Fischer

Kildeer, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 24

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Shipfitter Second Class Joseph Paul F. Bernard

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Pearl Harbor Attack

From DPAA

Coxswain Chester F. Klesit

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33

Killed in action in the attack on Pearl Harbor

Seaman First Class Kenneth E. Gebhardt

Balta, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Fireman Second Class Albert Renner

Mandan, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 24

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Yoeman First Class Glen A. Summers

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 24

Killed in action while aboard the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack

Seaman First Class George W. Hammerud

Valley City, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Gunner's Mate First Class Arthur Clarence Neuenschwander

Fessenden, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 34

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor along with 428 fellow crewmen.

North Dakotans lost on the Oklahoma:

Fireman First Class Clifford N. Olos

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20

Was aboard the USS West Virgina which was bombed at Pearl Harbor. Apparently he and two other ship mates lived for 16 days in the fresh water pumping station known as A-111.

Sergeant Hermann G. Schmidt

Beulah, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: December 20, 1941 / Age:

Killed in action in the Philippines.

Seaman First Class Oswald C. Wohl

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Helena

Date of Loss: December 13, 1941 / Age: 19

Died in service on December 13, 1941, due to injuries he sustained from the Pearl Harbor attack.