State Heroes

Corporal David Duane Elsbernd

Crosby, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2nd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:1st Infantry Division

Date of Loss: September 09, 1969 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Quang Tin, South Vietnam in Hostile action by multiple fragmentation wounds. 

Colonel Wendell Richard Keller

Fargo, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:433rd Tactical Figher Squadron

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:7th Air Force

Date of Loss: March 01, 1969 / Age: 40

On March 1, 1969, Keller and Meroney were the crew of an F-4D Phantom II aircraft that crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Khammouan Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing the aircraft hit by enemy fire.

Private First Class Wesley Gene Isaak

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:16th Engineer Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:1st Armored Division

Date of Loss: October 04, 1969 / Age: 22

Died in service in Fort Cavazos, Texas

Specialist 4 Dennis Stanley Wosick

Grand Forks, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Troop E

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:1st Cavalry

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: June 09, 1969 / Age: 21

Specialist Wosick was killed in action in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam in a hostile ground casualty. 

Lance Corporal Mark Daniel Mangin

Verona, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company L

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:3rd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: October 01, 1969 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Quang Nam, South Vietnam from a hostile explosive device. 

Seaman Darrell L. Johnson

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: November 01, 1969 / Age: 21

Died in service in San Ramon, California

Lance Corporal Richard Anthony Volk

Minot, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery E

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2nd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: March 19, 1969 / Age: 19

Killed in action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam through non-hostile accidental homicide. 

Lance Corporal Larry Joseph Sikorski

Fairmount, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery H

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:3rd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: February 25, 1969 / Age: 21

At approximately 0530H Fire Support Base Russell came under attack by hostile forces with mortars and rifle fire. Larry died as a result of fragmentation wounds to the chest area from mortar fire.

Boiler Technician 3rd Class Joseph Dennis Fischer

Zeeland, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS King

Date of Loss: May 23, 1969 / Age: 20

Four Boilermen died, and fifteen other crewmen were injured, during an engineering casualty and subsequent fire in the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam at 2152 hours, Friday, 23 May 1969.

Sergeant Douglas G. Dally

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Air Force

Date of Loss: May 18, 1969 / Age: 23

Died in service

Sergeant Patrick Joseph Buck

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:18th Fighter Intercept Squadron

Date of Loss: July 20, 1969 / Age: 26

Died in service in Valley City, ND. 

Private First Class Robert Michael Fullmer

Grand Forks, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2nd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:25th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: June 06, 1969 / Age: 21

Killed in action in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam in hostile action by artillery rocket mortar.

Lance Corporal Valarian Lawrence Finley

Mandaree, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company K

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:3rd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:1st Marine Division

Date of Loss: May 28, 1969 / Age: 22

During the month of May the Battalion was participating in combat operations in Quang Nam Province.

Private First Class Larry Sterl Poling

Fargo, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2nd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)

Date of Loss: October 20, 1969 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam through hostile small arms fire. 

1st Lieutenant John Morris Joyce

Minot, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company K

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:3rd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: April 17, 1969 / Age: 24

In April the Battalion was participating in Operation OKLAHOMA HILLS under the OPCON (Operational Control) of the 7th Marines, and on April 17 Company K discovered an NVA Base Camp just north of Hill 1050 (Nui Doi Dat) in the Thuong Duc District of Qua

Specialist 4 Robert Clyde Hausken

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: January 22, 1969 / Age: 21

Died in service in Fargo, ND following an illness of several months.