State Heroes

Baker 1st Class Kenton E. Kuebker

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 25

On 24 October, U.S.S. Albert W. Grant joined TG 77.2 and sailed to engage a Japanese task force reported steaming northward from the Sulu Sea toward Surigao Strait.

Ship's Cook Second Class Arthur M. Thorlaksen

Powers Lake, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Eddy W. Fuller

Minot, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Coxswain Alvin L. Schultz

Bottineau, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 28

Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the USS Birmingham.

Seaman First Class Mike T. Burckhard

Grand Forks, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action off of Leyte when a ship exploded near the cruiser he was stationed on. Buried at sea.

Technician Fourth Grade Joseph A. Nystul

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 135th Infantry Regiment

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 32

Killed in action in Italy

Private Carl H. Franklin

Goodrich, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 194th Tank Battalion

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 25

Died while in POW status on the Japanese ship "Arisan Maru", when it was sunk by an American submarine in the South China Sea. There were 1,803 POWs on the ship, only 9 of which survived the sinking.

Captain Frederick J. Gerlich

Dickinson, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 59th Coast Artillery Regiment

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 29

Died while in POW status after being assigned to the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment charged with harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th Regiment manned the seacoast artillery on Corregidor Island.

Seaman Second Class John R. Williams, Jr.

Mandan, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status - buried at sea.

Water Tender Second Class Albert L. Molzahn

Minot, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status - buried at sea.

Private First Class Clayton E. Verke

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 361st Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 91st Infantry Division

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 23

Killed in action in Italy

Private Lewis R. Larson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 30th Bomber Squadron

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 19th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in POW status. Killed aboard a Japanese ship when it was hit by torpedoes in the South China Sea. 

Private Harold L. Briggs

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Strategic Air Forces

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Electrician's Mate Second Class Adam Jack Klupp

Regent, ND

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died when Arisan Maru, transporting Allied Prisoners of War from the Philippines to Japan, was sunk by USS Shark (SS-314)

Coxswain Wendelin J. Volk

Strasburg, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Private Lawrence E. Roesner

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 31st Infantry Regiment

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 29

Died while in MIA status.