State Heroes
World War II (WWII)
1945
Staff Sergeant Donavon Blake
Underwood, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 114th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 44th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 06, 1945 / Age: 23
Killed in action in France.
1945
Sergeant John H. McCarten
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 276th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 70th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1945
Private First Class Gordon L. Mathiason
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 17th Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 20
Killed in action in Belgium
1945
Private Clarence J. Baker
Gackle, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 22nd Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 4th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 20
From WWII book:
1945
Corporal Michael A. Drury
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 155th Airborne Battalion
Regiment / Group / Brigade: Coast Artillery Corps
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 17th Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 21
Killed in action in Belgium
1945
Private Lloyd A. Ohlheiser
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 347th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 87th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action near Luxembourg.
1945
Second Lieutenant Robert L. Haley
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 673rd AAF Bomber Squadron
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 21
Killed in action in Southwest Pacific Area
1945
Private First Class Aaron C. Bender
LaMoure, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 359th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 90th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 34
Killed in action in Luxembourg.
1945
First Lieutenant Bertram E. Olson
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 330th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 83rd Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 29
1945
Radioman Third Class Rodney Loyd Brennan
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Ommaney Bay
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age:
Killed in Action by Japanese Suicide Plan while aboard the USS Ommaney Bay in Asiatic Theatre. (Source: Service Record WWI and WWII Garrison Community ND)
1945
Private Ronald W. Hagen
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 21
Killed in action in Luxembourg
1945
Lieutenant Commander Leonard J. Check
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Hancock
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: Fighting Squadron 7
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 33
Leonard Check became a World War II ACE credited with shooting down TWELVE enemy aircraft. He was lost in January 1945, after a mid-air collision with his wingman over Luzon, Philippine Islands.
1945
Seaman First Class Sidney W. Britsch
Knox, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 19
Killed in action when his battleship was attacked and sunk near the Philippines. Body was not recovered.
1945
Signalman Third Class Willis E. Gentz
New England, ND
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 19
Died while in MIA status.
1945
Private First Class Lawrence J. Jensen
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 327th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 101st Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 24
Killed in action in France