State Heroes
World War II
1944
Captain Clyde Roy Huddleson
Mandan, ND
World War II
Branch of Service: Marines
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 4th Marine Regiment
Date of Loss: December 31, 1944 / Age: 32
Major Clyde Huddleston was held as a POW in the Philippine Islands. In December 1944, he was boarded onto the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. The ship sailed on December 13th and came under attack from American planes on December 14th.
1944
1st Lt. Lyle J. Doerr
Valley Township, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Loss: December 30, 1944 / Age: 20
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Corporal Lewis F. Ruffcorn
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 30, 1944 / Age: 29
Died in service in Topeka, Kansas
1944
1st Lieutenant Lyle J. Doerr
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-17 42-102610 "Boomerang"
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 602nd Bomber Squadron
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 398th Bomber Group (Heavy)
Date of Loss: December 30, 1944 / Age: 21
Killed in action in the European Theater
1944
Private Paul W. Wallin
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 295th Engineer Combat Battalion
Date of Loss: December 30, 1944 / Age: 20
Killed in action in Germany
1944
Seaman 1c Frank S. Koehn
Valley City, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: December 28, 1944 / Age: 20
Died while in MIA status.
1944
2nd Lieutenant Kenneth R. Thompson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 28, 1944 / Age: 26
Killed in action in the South Pacific Area.
1944
Corporal Christian F. Wanner
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company, Fifteenth Army
Date of Loss: December 28, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Corporal Fenn T. Straster
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 27, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action in the Netherlands.
1944
Sgt. Joseph Brinkman
Danzig, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 27, 1944 / Age: 29
Killed in action in (Begium) Luxembourg.
1944
Private William Vedaa
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 26, 1944 / Age: 35
Died in service in the Mediterranean Area
1944
Private First Class John A. Ross
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 26, 1944 / Age: 33
Died in service in France
1944
Capt. Donald R. Emerson
Pembina, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 21
Killed in action while flying a P-51 during the Battle of the Bulge. He was heading back to his base after a mission when he encountered six enemy planes.
1944
Lt. Jr. Grade Arnt B. Hansen
Fargo, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 23
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Corporal Stanley J. Kosmatka
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 309th Field Artillery Battalion
Date of Loss: December 29, 1944 / Age: 28
Died in service in Germany