State Heroes

Sergeant Gerald Dean Klein

Vietnam Conflict

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D

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

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

Date of Loss: May 04, 1968 / Age: 22

Sergeant Klein was killed in action in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam from hostile multiple fragmentation wounds. 

Private First Class George Elwood Tongen

Walhalla, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:4th Battalion

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

Date of Loss: May 21, 1968 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Hua Nghia, South Vietnam through hostile small arms fire. 

Captain Robert John Himler

Williston, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Date of Loss: August 24, 1968 / Age: 25

During Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, a helicopter on resupply mission to ground troops in the vicinity of Le Nam (3) in the Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province crashed and was consumed by fire.

Warrant Officer 1st Class John William Brinkmeyer

New England, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Battery

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:4th Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:101st Airborne Division

Date of Loss: November 27, 1968 / Age: 22

John Brinkmeyer was killed when the Huey helicopter he was piloting was shot down during an ARA mission near FB Tomahawk by extremely heavy small arms fire during an attack on an enemy position North of Da Nang.

Private First Class William Paul Backer

Mandan, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company F

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

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

Date of Loss: January 12, 1968 / Age: 18

He died of wounds in Quang Tri, South Vietnam in hostile action. 

Specialist 4 William F. West III

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery D

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:4th Battalion

Date of Loss: August 21, 1968 / Age: 20

Died while in service in Washington, D.C.

Master Sergeant Patrick Joseph McCabe

Bismarck, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:1st Logistical Command

Date of Loss: May 06, 1968 / Age: 43

Died in service in Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam in a non-hostile ground casualty.

Lance Corporal Douglas Milton Kelly

Dickinson, 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: July 28, 1968 / Age: 21

On the morning of 28 July Company K moved out from the village complex of Da Hoa in an area known to the Marines as "DODGE CITY' towards the east, the third platoon began to receive some harassing rifle fire which ceased abruptly.

Sergeant James M. Levings

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company C

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

Date of Loss: May 23, 1968 / Age: 19

Died in service in Binh Dinh, South Vietnam in a non-hostile accidental homicide. 

Private First Class Fred Walter Jansonius

Jamestown, 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:9th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: February 02, 1968 / Age: 19

Aviation Machinist's Mate Petty Officer 2nd Class Chester Leroy Coons

Bismarck, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:Observation Squadron 67

Date of Loss: February 17, 1968 / Age: 31

In LZ, LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND

Sergeant John Charles Tingley

Kathyrn, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 128th Assault Helicopter Company

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:11th Aviation Battalion

Date of Loss: January 10, 1968 / Age: 21

On 10 Jan 1968 a UH-1B (tail number 64-14011) from the 128th Assault Helicopter Company went down about 14 kilometers northeast of Trang Bang after being hit by small arms fire. The gunner, SP4 Stephen M.

Sergeant 1st Class Louis Hillyer

Monango, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery C

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

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

Date of Loss: January 07, 1968 / Age: 41

Killed in action in Quang Tin, South Vietnam through hostile artillery rocket mortar. 

Private First Class Florian Henry Kuss

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company C

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

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

Date of Loss: January 05, 1968 / Age: 21

Florian was killed in action with 8 other soldiers in Vietnam when their night position came under attack.

Private First Class Dale Harlan Amundson

Finley, 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 Infantry Division

Date of Loss: October 30, 1968 / Age: 20

He died while in service at a rest and rehabilitation area at Chu Laf when he drowned there. 

Corporal Donald J. Sobolik

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery D

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

Date of Loss: February 24, 1968 / Age: 20

He died in service in Guyana.