State Heroes

1944

Private Peter B. Patnaude

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age: 22

Killed in action in France

1944

Technician Fifth Grade Paul O. Thurn

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 60th Infantry Regiment

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age: 32

Killed in action in France

1944

Private First Class Willis W. Wacker

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 66th Armored Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 2nd Armed Division

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age: 24

Killed in action in France

1944

Private First Class Lyle O. Weinreis

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 60th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 9th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age: 26

Killed in action in France

1944

Aviation Radioman Curtis L. Wright Jr.

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Yorktown

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age: 23

Killed in action in Yap Island

1944

Staff Sergeant Albert R. Rodacker

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 357th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 90th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near France.

1944

Corporal Theodore Albert Vasicek

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Training Readiness Authority

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: Fourth Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age:

Captured by German Forces while on Combat Patrol 27 July 1944.

Wounded In Action France 27 July 1944.

1944

Staff Sergeant Edward J. Birch

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-17 Flying Fortress

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 32nd Bomber Squadron B-17 FLYING FORTRESS

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 301st Bomber Group

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 15th US Army Air Forces

Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age: 19

Killed in action in a plane that crashed in Austria, the plane departed Italy

1944

Sergeant Louis Larson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 359th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 90th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near France.

1944

First Lieutenant Orin E. Olson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 448th Bomber Squadron

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 321st Bomber Group

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 12th Air Force

Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age: 25

On July 26 they were bombing a bridge on the Adiage River near Verona, Italy, when their plane was hit in the left engine. Orin stayed at the controls of the plane as other crew members parachuted out.

1944

Technician Fifth Class Lloyd J.O. McLean

Niagara, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion

Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 27

Killed in action near France.

1944

Staff Sergeant Julius A. Skavlan

Schafer, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion

Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 22

Killed in action in France.

1944

Private First Class James W. Fritz

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 23rd Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 2nd Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 29

Killed in action in France

1944

Technician Fourth Grade Alvin O. Ellingson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Field Artillery Corps Division

Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 33

Killed in action in France

1944

Staff Sergeant Arthur E. Kittelson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Field Artillery Corps Division

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

Died in service in Normandy, France