State Heroes

Coxswain Chester F. Klesit

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

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

Killed in action in the attack on Pearl Harbor

F1c Howard T. Anderson

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Killed in action during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Fireman 1c Edward Dale Johnson

New Rockford, ND

World War II

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 1c Leslie H. Fischer

World War II

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 1c Charles Ray Casto

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 19

Killed in action on the USS Oklahoma. Remains accounted for on November 21, 2016. by DPAA

Fireman 3c Richard E. Nelson

World War II

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.

Seaman 1c Earl Nermoe

Upham, ND

World War II

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.

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Arthur Clarence Neuenschwander

Fessenden, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 34

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:

Yoeman 1st Class Glen A. Summers

World War II

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

Radioman 2c Floyd Arthur Wells

Cavalier, ND

World War II

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.

GM3c John M. Emery

World War II

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.

EM2C Steve L. Lesmeister

World War II

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.

S1c Vernon J. Eidsvig

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Utah

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

Served aboard the USS Utah and was reported MIA following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Seaman 1st Class James E. London

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 29

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack

Seaman 1c George W. Hammerud

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 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.