State Heroes

Staff Sergeant Robert J. Burckardt

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

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

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Corporal Herman C. Diede

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:Americal Division

Date of Loss: November 23, 1942 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Private First Class Omer A. Young

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: December 02, 1942 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Staff Sergeant Pat G. Reilly

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

Date of Loss: November 22, 1942 / Age: 20

Killed in action in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Second Lieutenant Carl E. Vettel

Caledonia, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

Date of Loss: November 21, 1942 / Age: 23

KIA while leading a patrol west of the Matanikau River in the Point Cruz pocket November 21st, he was killed as he threw a hand grenade at an enemy machine gun nest.

Technician Fifth Grade Harley A. Quarne

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: September 10, 1942 / Age: 24

Died in service in De Rudder, Louisiana 

Corporal Jack F. Leithold

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: October 26, 1942 / Age: 23

On October 25 & 26, 1942, less than two weeks after landing on Guadalcanal, the 164th Infantry Regiment would become involved in the heaviest fighting of the Guadalcanal Campaign after the Japanese launched a surprise offensive.

Private Bernhart H. Boe

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: November 28, 1942 / Age: 21

Killed in action in Guadalcanal

Corporal Charles A. Sales

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: October 16, 1942 / Age: 22

Died in service at Camp Pickett, Virgina

Private Allen A. Parke

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: July 06, 1942 / Age: 20

Died in POW Cabanatuan Camp in the Philippine Islands. He died of diphtheria.

Private Teddy Belcheff

Normania Township, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:16th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: June 20, 1942 / Age: 26

Died while in POW status. Philippines. Remains not recovered.

Second Lieutenant Verne Augustine

Wahpeton, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Edsall; Army Air Corps

Date of Loss: March 01, 1942 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status. Indonesia. Remains not recovered. 

Seaman Second Class Wilferd Dewey Palmer

Minot, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oaklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 21

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor along with 428 fellow crewmen.

North Dakotans lost on the Oklahoma:

Sergeant First Class Everett I. Severinson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 25

Killed in action in the Pearl Harbor attack while aboard the USS Oklahoma.

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor along with 428 fellow crewmen.

Private Floyd M. Elton

Berg, ND

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: January 11, 1942 / Age:

Died at Albany, Georgia

Private Steingrimur Steinolfson

Thinvalla Township, ND

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:32nd Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 06, 1942 / Age: 28

Killed-in-action in Papua, New Guinea