State Heroes

Lieutenant Commander John E. Burke

Bismarck, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: November 15, 1942 / Age: 37

Killed in action near Guadalcanal.

Private Wenzel A. Picha

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: November 22, 1942 / Age: 34

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Lieutenant Junior Grade Edwin E. Tuma

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: October 14, 1942 / Age: 25

Killed in action when the plane he was in was shot down by the Japanese. 

Sergeant First Class Virgil A. Lane

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: November 21, 1942 / Age: 22

Virgil Lane was killed Nov. 21, 1942, on Guadalcanal while serving with the 164th North Dakota Infantry Regiment in World War II. The Hillsboro Lane-Osmon Veterans of Foreign Wars post is named in honor of Virgil's memory.

Private Alvin F. Callahan

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: October 07, 1942 / Age: 31

Died in a plane crash at South Plains Army Flying School

Private First Class Wenceslaus J. Novotny

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company I

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: November 21, 1942 / Age: 20

Killed in action in the South Pacific

Private First Class James P. Shockman

LaMoure, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company M

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:3rd Battalion

Date of Loss: May 06, 1942 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Ft. Hughes, Philippine Islands

Corporal Richard C. Myers

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: November 22, 1942 / Age: 21

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Private Harold R. Van Hoof

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:25th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: September 27, 1942 / Age: 28

Killed in action in Hawaii

Sergeant Raymond W. Johnson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company B

Date of Loss: November 05, 1942 / Age: 25

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Sergeant Reuben Heer

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: November 30, 1942 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Chief Commissaryman Emil Schadler

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Meredith

Date of Loss: October 15, 1942 / Age: 30

One of 186 crew members Killed In Action in the sinking of the destroyer U.S.S. Meredith (DD-434) by Japanese aircraft from the carrier Zuikaku while the ship was enroute from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal with supplies

Private Elton L. Pederson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: November 22, 1942 / Age: 28

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

First Lieutenant Frank G. Welch

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: October 20, 1942 / Age: 27

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Radioman Second Class Floyd Arthur Wells

Cavalier, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 24

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Remains identified in 2020. returned to North Dakota September 2020.

Seaman 1st Class James E. London

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 29

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack