State Heroes
World War II
1941
Fireman 1c Charles Ray Casto
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 19
Killed in action on the USS Oklahoma. Remains accounted for on November 21, 2016. by DPAA
1941
Fireman 3c Richard E. Nelson
Harwood, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20
Died while in MIA status. Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.
1941
Gunner's Mate 1st Class Arthur Clarence Neuenschwander
Fessenden, ND
World War II
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:
1941
Radioman 2c Floyd Arthur Wells
Cavalier, ND
World War II
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 identified in 2020. returned to North Dakota September 2020.
1941
Private Byron G. Elliott
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 5th AAF Bomber Group
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20
Killed in action during the Pearl Harbor attack in Hickham Field, Hawaii
1941
Radioman 3c Donald J. Kusie
Dickinson, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20
Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.
1941
Seaman 1c Kenneth E. Gebhardt
Balta, NDWorld War II
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.
1941
Fire Controlman 2c Elroy V. Peterson
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1941
RM2c Walter Howard Backman
Wilton, ND
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22
Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His body was recovered July 17, 2017.
1941
Seaman 1c Joseph Schdowski
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:
Died while in MIA status. USS Arizona. Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.Â
1941
Seaman 1c Howard H. Kukuk
Cavalier, NDWorld War II
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.Â
1941
Fireman 2c Albert Renner
Mandan, ND
World War II
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.
1941
Coxswain Chester F. Klesit
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33
Killed in action in the attack on Pearl Harbor
1941
Electrician's Mate 3C Glen E. Nicholson
World War II
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.Â
1941
Boatswain's Mate 1st Petty Officer Elmer L. Carpenter
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33
Died in service in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii