State Heroes
World War II (WWII)
1944
Captain Charles R. Durfee
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Marines
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:1st Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:2nd Marine Division
Date of Loss: June 17, 1944 / Age: 25
Killed in action in Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
1944
Sergeant Louis R. Reitan
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:763rd AAF Bomber Squadron
Date of Loss: July 15, 1944 / Age: 19
Killed in action in Yugoslavia
1944
Private First Class Raymond Klein
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:90th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: September 27, 1944 / Age: 23
Killed in action in France
1944
Second Lieutenant Denis J. Ziebarth
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 550th Bomber Squadron
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:8th Air Force
Date of Loss: January 05, 1944 / Age: 27
Killed in crash landing at Badwell Ash, Suffolk, England, while attempting to reach their base after the aircraft was severely battle damaged on bombing mission over Bordeaux, France. Eight crew members were Killed In Action.
1944
Private First Class Leonard L. Ahlschwede
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:27th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: June 12, 1944 / Age: 25
Killed in action in Saipan
1944
First Lieutenant Erling J. Varland
World War II (WWII)
Date of Loss: November 24, 1944 / Age: 24
Killed in action in Leyte, Philippine Islands
1944
Staff Sergeant Archie Keim
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:32nd Infantry Division
Date of Loss: August 06, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1944
Private Wilbert A. Teigen
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:36th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: November 30, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1944
Staff Sergeant John E. Rod
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division
Date of Loss: February 03, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1944
Corporal Martin R. Dahl
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:Fourth Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
Date of Loss: June 17, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1944
First Lieutenant Roy O. Yonker
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Air Force
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:97th Squadron
Date of Loss: September 14, 1944 / Age: 22
Killed in action near England.
1944
Major George C. Garske
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-25C #42-53366
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:488th Bomber Squadron
Date of Loss: February 17, 1944 / Age: 24
George was "Killed In Action" when his B-25 was shot down and crashed near Campoleone, Italy during the war. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
1944
Staff Sergeant Hunter D. Watts
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:82nd Airborne Division
Date of Loss: June 15, 1944 / Age: 22
Killed in action in France
1944
Private First Class Johannes "Johnny" Gehring
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:28th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 16, 1944 / Age: 21
Army Private First Class Gehring experienced a critical situation which ultimately resulted in the loss of his life near Belgium.
1944
Second Lieutenant Russell Reykjalin
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:34th Field Artillery Battalion
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Ninth Infantry Division
Date of Loss: July 13, 1944 / Age: 34
Killed in action near France.
1944
Chief Aviation Storekeeper Eugene P. Thompson
World War II (WWII)
Branch of Service: Marines
Date of Loss: June 29, 1944 / Age: 30
Killed in action in Saipan, Marianas Islands