State Heroes
World War II
1944
Capt. Donald R. Emerson
Pembina, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 21
Killed in action while flying a P-51 during the Battle of the Bulge. He was heading back to his base after a mission when he encountered six enemy planes.
1944
Lt. Jr. Grade Arnt B. Hansen
Fargo, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 23
Died while in MIA status.
1944
PFC Richard R. Cuskelly
Dickinson, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 19
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Pvt. Benton L. Lawrence
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the Belgian Steamship "Leopoldville", when a German torpedo hit the ship.
1944
PFC Erasmo Garcia
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 27th Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division
Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age: 31
Died while in POW status in Germany.
1944
2nd Lt. John V. Hultin
Nash, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 575th Bomber Squadron, 391st Bomber Group, Medium
Date of Loss: December 23, 1944 / Age: 24
Killed in action near France.
1944
2nd Lt. Bryce A. Ralston
World War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 395th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group
Date of Loss: December 23, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action in Germany. Shot down by fighter near Kruft.
1944
Pvt. Michael Kempel
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 23, 1944 / Age: 34
Killed in action near Luxembourg.
1944
Pvt. Frank Thomas
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 23, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near Luxembourg.
1944
Corporal Ruben F. Welk
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 421st Base Unit
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 4th Air Force
Date of Loss: December 22, 1944 / Age: 19
On December 22, 1944 he was on the crew of the B-24J Liberator #44-40523 when they departed from Muroc Field in California during a routine training flight. They crashed and exploded during a snowstorm on Mount Gleason north of Glendale, California
1944
2nd Lieutenant Ray W. Shively
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery A
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 434th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 7th Armored Division
Date of Loss: December 22, 1944 / Age: 30
Killed in action in Belgium
1944
Pvt. Delmar M. Souther
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: December 21, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near Belgium.
1944
2nd Lt. Edgar A. Kjos
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 202nd Anti-Aircraft Arty (Automatic Weapons) Battalion
Date of Loss: December 21, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Private First Class Sherman I. Vee
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 306th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 77th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 21, 1944 / Age: 24
Killed in combat in the drive into Ormac Valley in the Battle of Leyte Island.
1944
Private Joseph M. Laviolette
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 101st Airborne Division
Date of Loss: December 22, 1944 / Age: 21
Died in service in Bastogne, Belgium