State Heroes

Private First Class Anthony R. Michels

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

Date of Loss: April 30, 1943 / Age: 27

Killed in action in Tunisia, North Africa

Staff Sergeant Marvin T. Charlson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:525th Bomb Squadron

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:8th Air Force

Date of Loss: August 17, 1943 / Age: 22

Was on the B-17 42-29830 "Peter Wabbit" that Failed to Return (FTR) Schweinfurt raid 17-Aug-43. Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Dorrebach, 6 miles W of Bingen, Germany Killed in Action (KIA). Missing Aircrew Report 1350

Private First Class Thomas L. Pyne

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: April 28, 1943 / Age: 24

Killed in action in the North Africa Area.

First Lieutenant Earl A. Desautel

Grafton, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: December 27, 1943 / Age: 29

Killed in action in the Philippines.

Private Harry O. Bergstad

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

Date of Loss: July 11, 1943 / Age:

Killed in action in Italy.

Technical Sergeant Albert C. Johnson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:9th AAF Bomber Squadron

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:10th Air Force

Date of Loss: December 01, 1943 / Age: 37

Johnson was the flight engineer on B-24J #42-73183, serving with the 10th Air Force. They were part of a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission to Insein, Burma, near Rangoon.

Private Raymond H. Johnson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: March 31, 1943 / Age: 22

Killed in action in North Africa

2nd Lieutenant Clarence L. Bonderud

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: January 14, 1943 / Age: 24

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Major Charles H. Colwell

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:26th squadron

Date of Loss: June 02, 1943 / Age: 28

Killed in action when his plane crashed in Eastern Assam Province, India

Private First Class Fred Huss

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:2640th Quartermaster Truck Battalion

Date of Loss: April 22, 1943 / Age:

Killed in action in North Africa.

Staff Sergeant Larus T. Snydal

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:527th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: June 11, 1943 / Age: 24

Died while in MIA status. Killed on a mission to Wilhelmshaven, flying aboard 42-3099.

Second Lieutenant Cassius C. Brandenburg

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 401st Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: February 26, 1943 / Age: 28

The plane Lieutenant Brandenburg was on was last seen over the North Sea about 20 miles north of Norderney Island and no trace of the plane or 10 men on board was ever found. 

Below is the mission they were on:

First Lieutenant Robert D. McDougall

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:379th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: January 22, 1943 / Age: 26

Killed in action in Tunisia

Private Frank Polensky

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

Date of Loss: November 01, 1943 / Age:

Killed in action near Italy.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Francis Register

Bismarck, ND

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: May 16, 1943 / Age: 26

Killed off Attu, Alaska as a member of Composite Squadron Eleven (VC-11) operating from the escort carrier USS Nassau (CVE-16).

Captain Walter W. Webster

World War I (WWI), World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: March 16, 1943 / Age: 54

Died in service in Chester, Pennsylvania