State Heroes

Seaman First Class Howard H. Kukuk

Cavalier, ND

World War II (WWII)

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. 

Coxswain Chester F. Klesit

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33

Killed in action in the attack on Pearl Harbor

Fireman Second Class Albert Renner

Mandan, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

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

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

Coxswain Fred Zimmerman

Cleveland, ND

World War II (WWII)

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. USS Arizona. Remains not recovered. 

Fireman First Class Edward Dale Johnson

New Rockford, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

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

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor along with 428 fellow crewmen. Edward Dale Johnson died along with USS Oklahoma crewman from North Dakota.

Seaman First Class Leslie H. Fischer

Kildeer, ND

World War II (WWII)

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 not recovered. 

Electrician's Mate Third Class Richard S. Sherven

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

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

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.

Seaman Second Class Wilferd Dewey Palmer

Minot, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oaklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 21

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:

Seaman First Class Earl Nermoe

Upham, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

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

Navy Seaman 1C Class Earl Nermoe was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia that was hit by two bombs and at least seven torpedoes from Japanese airplanes on Dec. 7, 1941.

Radioman Second Class Walter Howard Backman

Wilton, ND

World War II (WWII)

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.

Gunner's Mate Third Class John M. Emery

Gardner, ND

World War II (WWII)

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.

Electrician's Mate Second Class Steve L. Lesmeister

Harvey, ND

World War II (WWII)

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.

Yoeman First Class Glen A. Summers

World War II (WWII)

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 First Class George W. Hammerud

Valley City, ND

World War II (WWII)

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.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Petty Officer Elmer L. Carpenter

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33

Died in service in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii