State Heroes

Private First Class Philip E. Kupper

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: July 23, 1944 / Age: 29

Killed in action in France

Technical Sergeant Leo D. Ballegeer

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:28th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 19, 1944 / Age: 25

Killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium

Flight Officer Edward G. Wild Jr.

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: November 03, 1944 / Age: 20

Died in service in Lancaster, California

Private Donald Hosie

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: September 24, 1944 / Age: 19

Killed in action in Holland

Second Lieutenant William L. Pierce

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: May 23, 1944 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Italy

First Lieutenant Edward G. Meath

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: August 08, 1944 / Age: 29

Killed in action in France

Gunnery Sergeant Edwin Kienzle

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Marines

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

Date of Loss: July 21, 1944 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Guam

Corporal Lewis F. Ruffcorn

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: December 30, 1944 / Age: 29

Died in service in Topeka, Kansas

Private First Class Bennie G. Nordgaard

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: September 09, 1944 / Age: 32

Killed in action in France

Private First Class Thomas A. Langved

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: April 16, 1944 / Age: 19

Killed in action in Bougainville

Private First Class Curtis G. Hagen

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

Date of Loss: March 07, 1944 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Anzio, Italy

Technician Fourth Grade William F. Menke

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: October 19, 1944 / Age: 31

Died in service in Springfield, Missouri

Technical Sergeant Herbert Fried

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:338th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: April 11, 1944 / Age: 29

Killed in action in a plane that crashed in the Baltic Sea, about 55 miles E of Sassnitz. The cause of the crash was enemy aircraft.

Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class William Benbow

Fargo, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1943 / Age: 22

Killed in action. Buried at sea.

Corporal Willard Christianson

Spencer Township, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:34th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: April 28, 1943 / Age: 29

Killed in action in Tunisia.

Technician Fourth Grade Joseph "Joe" A. Krawczyk

Fried, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company H

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2nd Battalion

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: January 13, 1943 / Age:

He went missing when he and 16 other individuals (+6 crew) boarded a C-47 on Guadalcanal for casualty evacuation to Efate Island, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) which vanished in route.  Died while in MIA status.