World War II (WWII)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to First Lieutenant Clarence Edward Van Ray (MCSN: 0-6495), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, in the Philippine Islands Area in 1942.

Lieutenant Williams was one of the 1,619 prisoners marching through Manila€™s dusty streets on their way from Bilibid Prison to the Japanese ship Oryoku Maru.  The Oryoku Maru was not marked as a Prison-Of-War vessel. Being unmarked, the ship was bombed and strafed by American planes from the aircraft carrier Hornet on both December 14 and 15. On the morning of December 15, 1944, the Oryoku Maru sank in Subic Bay (Phillipine Islands), about 300 yards offshore.

Master Sergeant Ivan Levi Montgomery was living in Minot, ND when he entered the service and was a veteran of World War II. In Korea he was a member of Headquarters Company, 522nd Engineer Base Depot, US Army.

On November 20, 1951, he was struck by a train in a depot near Pusan, South Korea.

He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal the Korean War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mound Hill Cemetery

Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, USA

Buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy at Plot I, Row 15, Grave 19. Brother of Pvt. Elmer Puppe, killed in action October 19, 1943

Buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy at Plot B, Row 13, Grave 7. Brother of Staff Sgt. Lester Puppe, killed in action August 11, 1943

Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Beauchamp of Olga.  Entered the Navy in Minneapolis, MN on August 18, 1942.  Declared deceased November 25, 1944.

Memorialized at Courts of the Missing, Court 5, Honolulu Memorial and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cemetery
Olga, ND.

Entered the Army at Ft. Snelling, MN on December 28, 1941.  Buried at Mountain Cemetery, Mountain, ND in Plot 81, Row 2, Grave 1.

Lieutenant Francis 'Cash' Register was a veteran of aerial combat in the Central and South Pacific, destroying eight Japanese aircraft. His bravery earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, and a Purple Heart, the latter three awarded posthumously. Dr. Franklin Hook of Bismarck published the book "Pinky" in 2014, a narrative history of Lt. Register, North Dakota's first ace in World War II.