State Heroes

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Claire R. Brier

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Pearl Harbor.

Fireman 1st Class Clifford N. Olos

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20

Was aboard the USS West Virgina which was bombed at Pearl Harbor. Apparently he and two other ship mates lived for 16 days in the fresh water pumping station known as A-111.

PFC James A. Krahn

World War II

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Aboard USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.

Seaman 2c Charles H. Johannes

Foxholm, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

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:

F1c Howard T. Anderson

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Killed in action during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

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

Fireman 3c Richard E. Nelson

World 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.

Shipfitter 2nd Class Joseph Paul F. Bernard

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Pearl Harbor Attack

From DPAA

Corporal Edwin C. Borusky

Langdon, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Aboard USS Arizona during attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

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:

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.

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.

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

Radioman 3c Donald J. Kusie

World 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.

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.