State Heroes

Seaman 1st Class Earl E. Tuntland

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 10, 1941 / Age: 22

Seaman Tuntland was gravely injured in the Pearl Harbor attacks and died 3 days later of his wounds.

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.

GM3c John M. Emery

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

EM2C Steve L. Lesmeister

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

A native of Selz, North Dakota. Killed in action on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii while serving aboard the battleship USS Arizona.

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:

Yoeman 1st Class Glen A. Summers

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 24

Killed in action while aboard the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack

Seaman 1c George W. Hammerud

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 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Sergeant First Class Everett I. Severinson

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 25

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack while aboard the USS Oklahoma.

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor along with 428 fellow crewmen.

2nd Lieutenant Carleton E. Simensen

World War II

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

Killed in action aboard the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack.

S1c Vernon J. Eidsvig

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Utah

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

Served aboard the USS Utah and was reported MIA following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Seaman 1st Class James E. London

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 29

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack

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.

Fireman 1c Lawrence Herman Fecho

Upham, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

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

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:

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.

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.