State Heroes

Private First Class James Christian Freidt

Grand Forks, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company C

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

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

Date of Loss: October 11, 1967 / Age: 20

Pfc. Freidt was walking "point" as his platoon moved along a trail at the base of their elevated night position when he tripped a booby-trapped grenade. He died instantly.

Lance Corporal Kenneth Robert Jamerson

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D

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

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

Date of Loss: April 05, 1967 / Age: 20

During the month of March the Battalion was carrying out it combat operations in the Dien Ban and Hieu Nhon District of Quang Nam Province.

Staff Sergeant Ronald Leroy Kent

Page, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company

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

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

Date of Loss: January 20, 1967 / Age: 23

Killed in Action in Binh Dinh, South Vietnam from hostile small arms fire.

Journalist 1st Class William Carl Eckes

Beach, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: March 10, 1967 / Age: 26

JO1 Eckes had 6 years of service in the U.S. Navy, arriving in Vietnam assigned to Headquarters Naval Support Activity Saigon, U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam. A senior U.S.

Private First Class David Bruce Kline

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

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

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

Date of Loss: July 02, 1967 / Age: 18

David Kline died while missing in Binh Dinh, South Vietnam.

1st Lieutenant Robert Joy Sime

Tolna, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:5th Battalion

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

Date of Loss: October 23, 1967 / Age: 27

On October 23, during Operation WALLOWA the enemy were encountered some 7 kilometers east of Thang Binh in Quang Tin Province. During the ensuing fire fight 1stLt Sime was killed in action by hostile small arms fire.

Lieutenant Colonel Gordon James Wenaas

Mayville, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Air Force

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:314th Tactical Airlift Wing

Date of Loss: December 29, 1967 / Age: 46

On December 29, 1967, he was a crew member of a Lockheed Hercules Transport Aircraft (C-130E) on a mission in the extreme northwest corner of North Vietnam over Lai Chau Province, when contact was lost. 

Constructionman Melvin Edward Johnson

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: October 08, 1967 / Age: 21

Died in service in Thua Thien, South Vietnam in non-hostile action in an air crash in a fixed wing. 

Sergeant Major Francis Ellsworth Dowling

Coopertown, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company

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

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

Date of Loss: October 17, 1967 / Age: 38

Killed in action in Binh Long, South Vietnam through hostile action. 

Private Kenneth Leo Johner

Noonan, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company

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

Date of Loss: March 21, 1967 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam through hostile action by small arms fire. 

Hospitalman Michael Duane Himmerick

Valley City, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 1st 155mm Gun Battery

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

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

Date of Loss: April 06, 1967 / Age: 19

On April 06, 1967 HN Michael Himmerick was killed in action and died outright from hostile small arms fire in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.

Lance Corporal Gary Wayne Lindsay

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company I

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

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

Date of Loss: September 07, 1967 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam from hostile artillery rocket mortar. 

Private First Class Allen Wayne Porter

Carson, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company

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

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

Date of Loss: April 09, 1967 / Age: 20

Died in service in Quang Nam, South Vietnam through non-hostile accident. 

Staff Sergeant Thomas A. Welker

Minot, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

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

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

Date of Loss: July 27, 1967 / Age: 29

Killed in action in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam through hostile fragmentation wounds. 

Private First Class Murray Dean Vidler

Fargo, ND

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company M

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

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

Date of Loss: December 19, 1967 / Age: 21

On December 19, while crossing a rice paddy in the vicinity of Dong Tien in an area of Dien Ban District in Quang Nam Province known as "Dodge City" a patrol of Marines were hit with enemy sniper fire followed by a automatic weapons fire and volleys of

Captain Richard Thomas Perrin

Vietnam Conflict

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Troop C

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

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

Date of Loss: June 27, 1966 / Age: 24

On June 27, 1966, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B (tail number 64-14047) from the 161st Aviation Company and a U.S.