State Heroes

Seaman First Class Orlan R. Cool

Westhope, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: February 18, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Seaman Second Class Verlin B. Summer

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: February 18, 1942 / Age: 18

Killed in action in Newfoundland

Seaman First Class Rodger J. Hanson

White Earth, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: February 05, 1942 / Age: 24

Killed in action near the Philippines.

Machinist's Mate Second Class Nicholas N. Fischer

Halliday, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: January 26, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Private Jack W. Amsler

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 31st Infantry Regiment

Date of Loss: January 19, 1942 / Age:

Killed in action at Abucay, Philippines, during the Battle of The Philippines. Remains not recovered. 

Private Floyd M. Elton

Berg, ND

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: January 11, 1942 / Age:

Died at Albany, Georgia

Sergeant Hermann G. Schmidt

Beulah, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 31st Infantry Regiment

Date of Loss: December 20, 1941 / Age:

Killed in action in the Philippines.

Seaman First Class Oswald C. Wohl

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Helena

Date of Loss: December 13, 1941 / Age: 19

Died in service on December 13, 1941, due to injuries he sustained from the Pearl Harbor attack.

Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Kermonth N. Olson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: December 10, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Philippines. Remains not recovered. 

Seaman First Class Earl E. Tuntland

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 10, 1941 / Age: 22

Seaman Tuntland was gravely injured in the Pearl Harbor attacks and died 3 days later of his wounds.

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. 

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 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.

Fireman 3c Richard E. Nelson

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. Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Radioman Second Class Floyd Arthur Wells

Cavalier, 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 identified in 2020. returned to North Dakota September 2020.