State Heroes
World War II
1942
Seaman 2nd Class Verlin B. Summer
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: February 18, 1942 / Age: 18
Killed in action in Newfoundland
1942
Seaman 1c Rodger J. Hanson
White Earth, NDWorld War II
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.
1942
MM2c Nicholas N. Fischer
Halliday, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: January 26, 1942 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1942
Pvt. Jack W. Amsler
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 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.
1942
PVT Floyd M. Elton
Berg, NDBranch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 11, 1942 / Age:
Died at Albany, Georgia
1941
Sgt. Hermann G. Schmidt
Beulah, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 31st Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: December 20, 1941 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1941
Seaman 1st Class Oswald C. Wohl
World War II
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.
1941
Seaman 1st Class Earl E. Tuntland
World War II
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.
1941
Pharmacist's Mate 3c Kermonth N. Olson
World War II
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.Â
1941
Fire Controlman 2c Elroy V. Peterson
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1941
Fireman 1c Lawrence Herman Fecho
Upham, ND
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20
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:
1941
RM2c Walter Howard Backman
Wilton, ND
World War II
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.
1941
Seaman 1c Joseph Schdowski
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:
Died while in MIA status. USS Arizona. Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.Â
1941
Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Claire R. Brier
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 26
Killed in action in Pearl Harbor.
1941
Fireman 1st Class Clifford N. Olos
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia
Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20
Was aboard the USS West Virgina which was bombed at Pearl Harbor. Apparently he and two other ship mates lived for 16 days in the fresh water pumping station known as A-111.