Everett I. Severinson

World War II
-
Fallen

County:
Grand Forks

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Navy

Rank:
Sergeant First Class

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
USS Oklahoma

Listed on/in the:
Register of North Dakota Veterans World War II 1941-1945 and Korean Conflict 1950-1953, published 1968

Major Battle/Theatre:
Asiatic Pacific Theater

Engagements/Battles:
Pearl Harbor

Circumstances:

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack while aboard the USS Oklahoma.

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:

  • Radioman Second Class Walter H. Backman of Wilton, Burleigh County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 7/17/2017.
  • Fireman First Class Charles R. Casto of North Dakota. Remains accounted for 11/21/2016
  • Fireman First Class Lawrence H. Fecho of Upham, McHenry County North Dakota. Remains accounted for 2/21/2017.
  • Fireman First Class Edward D. Johnson of New Rockford, Eddy County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 9/29/2020.
  • Seaman Second Class Charles H. Johannes of Foxholm, Ward County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 10/18/2021.
  • Gunners Mate First Class Arthur C. Neuenschwander of Fessenden, Wells County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 11/8/2017.
  • Seaman Second Class Calvin H. Palmer (Brother to Wilferd D. Palmer) of Minot, Ward County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 3/19/2019.
  • Seaman Second Class Wilferd D. Palmer (Brother to Calvin H. Palmer) of Minot, Ward County, North Dakota. Remains accounted for 3/19/2019.
  • SFC Everett I. Severinson of Reynolds, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. 

Biography:

born Reynolds, ND 12 May 16; resident Grand Forks County, ND; entered US Navy Mpls, MN 4 May 38; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; KIA 7 Dec 41 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; buried in Plot C, Grave 631, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The USS OKLAHOMA Memorial was dedicated 7 December 2007 on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. The memorial stands on the shores of Ford Island, next to the former berth of the Oklahoma. Today the USS Missouri museum is moored where the Oklahoma was moored when she was sunk.

The memorial's black granite walls suggest the once formidable hull of the Oklahoma. On the black granite wall is the alphabetical list of each sailor and what row his marble standard is in. When the wall is photographed the marble standards can be seen in the reflection. The white marble standards represent its lost sailors and Marines. Each perfectly aligned marble standard symbolizes an individual in pristine white dress uniform, inspired from the naval tradition of ‘manning the rails.' In full dress whites the ship's crew stand at attention along the rails or in the rigging of the ship to display respect and honor. The marble standards of this memorial stand perfectly straight, ‘manning the rails' of the Oklahoma, forever.

Everett Severinson's white marble standards is in Row 4.