State Heroes

Staff Sergeant Willard M. Christensen

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:331st Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: January 01, 1944 / Age: 25

Died while in MIA status. He was a tail gunner on the Donna Mae II.

Private Robert E. Robinson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:84th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 01, 1944 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Germany

Private First Class Vern W. Bardell

Ellendale, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Sixth Infantry Division

Date of Loss: June 23, 1944 / Age: 28

Killed in action.

Sergeant Earl W. Lerand

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 4128th Quartermaster Service Company

Date of Loss: July 12, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near Italy.

Private First Class Raymond A. Wetzel

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:91st Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 12, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near Italy.

Private Kenneth C. Howie

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:29th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: June 06, 1944 / Age: 32

Killed in action near France.

Private Melvin O. Skhal

Webster, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:30th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: November 18, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action in the Netherlands.

Private First Class Victor D. Schmiess

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:90th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: June 14, 1944 / Age: 28

Killed in action in France

Second Lieutenant William J. McIlonie Jr.

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:407th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: September 11, 1944 / Age: 24

He was on the crew of the B-17G #42-102426 "Kidley Divey" during a mission to the oil refineries at Labejum, Germany when they were attacked by groups of enemy fighters. They crashed near Eisleben, Germany.

First Lieutenant Thomas D. Sollom

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: May 14, 1944 / Age: 23

Killed in action in Italy

Private First Class Fred J. Kautz

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:27th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 12, 1944 / Age: 30

Killed in action in the Pacific

Private First Class Ole Monger

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:90th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 06, 1944 / Age: 25

Killed in action near Luxembourg.

Second Lieutenant Orman O. Fish

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:3rd Infantry Division

Date of Loss: February 24, 1944 / Age: 29

Killed in action in Italy

First Lieutenant Anthony Kuhn

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-24D #41-24186

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:72nd Bomber Squadron

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:13th Army Air Force

Date of Loss: March 05, 1944 / Age: 26

After a successful bombing mission it was noticed by other B-24's, while returning to base, that B-24D #41-24186 was not able to close their bomb bay doors and that one of their engines was also on fire.

Private First Class Herman E. Lange

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:83rd Infantry Division

Date of Loss: July 27, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near France.

Private Earl W. Weber

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Fifth Infantry Division

Date of Loss: September 16, 1944 / Age:

Killed in action near Luxembourg.