State Heroes

Staff Sergeant Ernest A. Tweten

Heimdal, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:579th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: October 09, 1944 / Age: 24

Died while in MIA status. Killed on a mission to Vegesack aboard 42-7470 "Exterminator" when the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters in the vicinity of the coast North of the target at Vegesack.

Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class Cletus F. Lipetzky

Kensal, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: June 11, 1944 / Age: 22

Died while in MIA status, when the USS-LST-496 on which he was serving struck a mine in the English Channel and sank during the coastal invasion of Normandy. His body was not recovered.

First Lieutenant Hugh J. Hazlett

Grand Forks, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:28th Materiel Squadron

Date of Loss: December 15, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Casualty of the Oryoku Maru.

Aviation Metalsmith First Class Lennard L. Sorem

Edmunds, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: June 17, 1944 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status. Killed on the USS Fanshaw Bay off of the Coast of Saipan. Received Purple Heart - Buried at Sea.

Private Benton L. Lawrence

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:66th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the Belgian Steamship "Leopoldville", when a German torpedo hit the ship.

Seaman First Class John W. Hamilton

Grafton, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United Staves Navy

Date of Loss: October 10, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Private First Class Randolph E. Oswald

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:17th Tank Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Seventh Armored Division

Date of Loss: October 29, 1944 / Age: 24

Died in MIA status. Killed near Holland during the Battle of the Canals.

Torpedoman's Mate Second Class Frank G. Gillis

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 20

Died while in MIA status while stationed aboard the destroyer USS Johnston when the ship was sunk by a Japanese fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Fireman First Class Ignatius P. O'Donnell

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: April 05, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Seaman Second Class Ambrose L. Kosmatka

Warsaw, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: April 25, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Machinist's Mate Third Class Nathan E. Wright

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: January 30, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Carpenter's Mate Third Class Emanuel Schatz

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: April 26, 1944 / Age: 34

Died while in MIA status. Pacific Theater. Final Resting Place Unknown.

Second Lieutenant Edgar A. Kjos

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:202nd Anti-Aircraft Arty (Automatic Weapons) Battalion

Date of Loss: December 21, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Seaman Second Class John R. Williams, Jr.

Mandan, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status - buried at sea.

Seaman Second Class Leslie V. Nelson

Velva, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: February 02, 1944 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status.

Sergeant Warren E. Burnett

Elm Township, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:763rd Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: October 20, 1944 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status when his B-24J aircraft went missing over the Mediterranean Sea.