State Heroes
World War II (WWII)
1944
Private First Class Robert E. Rupert
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 23
Killed in action in Leyte, Philippine Islands
1944
Private Thomas J. Jereski
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 50th Engineer Combat Battalion
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 28
Killed in action in Leyte
1944
Technician Fourth Grade Joseph A. Nystul
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 135th Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 32
Killed in action in Italy
1944
Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Eddy W. Fuller
Minot, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
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.
1944
Water Tender Second Class Albert L. Molzahn
Minot, 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.
1944
Private First Class Clayton E. Verke
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 361st Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 91st Infantry Division
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 23
Killed in action in Italy
1944
Captain Frederick J. Gerlich
Dickinson, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 59th Coast Artillery Regiment
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 29
Died while in POW status after being assigned to the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment charged with harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th Regiment manned the seacoast artillery on Corregidor Island.
1944
Private Carl H. Franklin
Goodrich, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 194th Tank Battalion
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 25
Died while in POW status on the Japanese ship "Arisan Maru", when it was sunk by an American submarine in the South China Sea. There were 1,803 POWs on the ship, only 9 of which survived the sinking.
1944
Private Harold L. Briggs
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Strategic Air Forces
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Coxswain Wendelin J. Volk
Strasburg, 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.
1944
Electrician's Mate Second Class Adam Jack Klupp
Regent, ND
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died when Arisan Maru, transporting Allied Prisoners of War from the Philippines to Japan, was sunk by USS Shark (SS-314)
1944
Private Lewis R. Larson
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Air Force
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 30th Bomber Squadron
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 19th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died while in POW status. Killed aboard a Japanese ship when it was hit by torpedoes in the South China Sea.Â
1944
Private Lawrence E. Roesner
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 31st Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 29
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Lowell R. Nelson
Grand Forks, 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: 28
Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the USS Birmingham (CL-62) when attempting to rescue crew and fight fires alongside the stricken carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.