State Heroes
World War II
1944
Sgt. Louis Larson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1944
1st Lieutenant Orin E. Olson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 448th Bomber Squadron
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 321st Bomber Group
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 12th Air Force
Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age: 25
On July 26 they were bombing a bridge on the Adiage River near Verona, Italy, when their plane was hit in the left engine. Orin stayed at the controls of the plane as other crew members parachuted out.
1944
Staff Sergeant Edward J. Birch
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-17 Flying Fortress
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 32nd Bomber Squadron B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 301st Bomber Group
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 15th US Army Air Forces
Date of Loss: July 26, 1944 / Age: 19
Killed in action in a plane that crashed in Austria, the plane departed Italy
1944
Staff Sgt. Julius A. Skavlan
Schafer, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 22
Killed in action in France.
1944
Staff Sgt. Leo F. Baumgartner
Strasburg, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 28
Killed in action at the beginning of operation Cobra.
1944
Technician 4th Grade Alvin O. Ellingson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Field Artillery Corps Division
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 33
Killed in action in France
1944
Tech. 5c Lloyd J.O. McLean
Niagara, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 27
Killed in action near France.
1944
Private First Class James W. Fritz
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 23rd Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 2nd Infantry Division
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 29
Killed in action in France
1944
Corporal Ole A. Trontvet
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: July 24, 1944 / Age: 23
Died in service in Hondon, Texas.
1944
Tech. 5c Ewaldt F. Hasenwinkel
Elysian Township, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Medical Department
Date of Loss: July 24, 1944 / Age: 26
Killed in action near Italy.
1944
Private Reuben Wacker
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 119th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 30th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: July 24, 1944 / Age: 30
Killed in action near France.
1944
Private First Class Ervin R. Orvis
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 320th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 35th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: July 24, 1944 / Age: 18
Killed in action in St Lo, France
1944
Private First Class Philip E. Kupper
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: July 23, 1944 / Age: 29
Killed in action in France
1944
Private First Class Joseph P. Morris
World War II
Branch of Service: Marines
Date of Loss: July 23, 1944 / Age: 20
Died in service in Guam
1944
Staff Sergeant Arthur E. Kittelson
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 957th Field Artillery Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: Field Artillery Corps Division
Date of Loss: July 25, 1944 / Age: 24
Died in service in Normandy, France