State Heroes
World War II
1945
PFC James E. Balerud
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 345th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: February 23, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action in Belgium.
1945
Gunnery Sergeant Russell W. Lippert
World War II
Branch of Service: Marines
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 4th Tank Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 4th Marine Division
Date of Loss: February 22, 1945 / Age: 26
Colonel Robert M. Neiman described the moment Lippert gave his life to his country in his memoir, "Tanks on the Beaches". "Division called at about two in the morning and said the (previous) attack had been repulsed.
1945
Private William S. Mackoff
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: February 22, 1945 / Age: 21
Died in service in Iwo Jima
1945
Captain Kenneth A. Williams
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 164th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 22, 1945 / Age: 31
Killed in action in the Leyte, Philippine Islands
1945
Colonel Orin D. Haugen
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 11th Airborne Division
Date of Loss: February 22, 1945 / Age: 37
Colonel Haugen was in Parañaque when he was hit by a fragment from a 20mm anti-aircraft shell that the Japanese were firing at his troops.
1945
Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Olson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 21, 1945 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1945
Seaman 2nd Class Darwin P. Peterson
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: February 21, 1945 / Age: 19
Killed in action in the Asiatic Area
1945
Tech. Sgt. Matthias Mastel
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 21, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1945
Private First Class Henry Runestad
World War II
Branch of Service: Marines
Date of Loss: February 21, 1945 / Age: 20
Died in service in Iwo Jima.
1945
Staff Sgt. Mike J. Haniuk
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 21, 1945 / Age: 26
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1945
Staff Sergeant Ernest M. Holzemer
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 164th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 20, 1945 / Age: 29
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1945
Tech. 4c Harold D. Ellingson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 302nd Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 94th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: February 20, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action near Italy.
1945
Staff Sgt. Bernard L. Coordes
Bismarck, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 914th Field Artillery Battalion, 89th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: February 20, 1945 / Age: 31
Killed in action near France.
1945
Gunnery Sergeant Gust Spart
World War II
Branch of Service: Marines
Date of Loss: February 20, 1945 / Age: 50
Killed in action in Iwo Jima
1945
Staff Sgt. Edmund F. Mahowald
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 20, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.