State Heroes Total:
446
Service Branch

World War II

Lennard L. Sorem photo 1944

Aviation Metalsmith 1c Lennard L. Sorem

Edmunds, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: June 17, 1944 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status. Killed on the USS Fanshaw Bay off of the Coast of Saipan. Received Purple Heart - Buried at Sea.

Benton L. Lawrence photo 1944

Pvt. Benton L. Lawrence

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: December 25, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the Belgian Steamship "Leopoldville", when a German torpedo hit the ship.

John W. Hamilton photo 1944

Seaman 1c John W. Hamilton

Grafton, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United Staves Navy

Date of Loss: October 10, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Ralph R. Bender photo 1944

Staff Sergeant Ralph R. Bender

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:710th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: March 03, 1944 / Age: 21

Ralph was declared "Missing In Action" when his B-17 collided with B-17G #42-38075 and crashed in the North Sea near Wesermunde, Germany during the war

Randolph E. Oswald photo 1944

PFC Randolph E. Oswald

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 17th Tank Battalion, 7th Armored Division

Date of Loss: October 29, 1944 / Age: 24

Died in MIA status. Killed near Holland during the Battle of the Canals.

Frank G. Gillis photo 1944

Torpedoman's Mate 2c Frank G. Gillis

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 20

Died while in MIA status while stationed aboard the destroyer USS Johnston when the ship was sunk by a Japanese fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Ignatius P. O'Donnell photo 1944

Fireman 1c Ignatius P. O'Donnell

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: April 05, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Ambrose L. Kosmatka photo 1944

Seaman 2c Ambrose L. Kosmatka

Warsaw, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: April 25, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Nathan E. Wright photo 1944

Machinist's Mate 3c Nathan E. Wright

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: January 30, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Emanuel Schatz photo 1944

Carpenter's Mate 3c Emanuel Schatz

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: April 26, 1944 / Age: 34

Died while in MIA status. Pacific Theater. Final Resting Place Unknown.

Edgar A. Kjos photo 1944

2nd Lt. Edgar A. Kjos

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 202nd Anti-Aircraft Arty (Automatic Weapons) Battalion

Date of Loss: December 21, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

John R. Williams, Jr. photo 1944

Seaman 2c John R. Williams, Jr.

Mandan, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve

Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status - buried at sea.

Jenner C. Nelson photo 1944

1st Lt. Jenner C. Nelson

World War II

Branch of Service: Air Force

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 404th Bomber Squadron, 28th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Loss: December 06, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Died on a mission due to an engine failure southwest of Alaska.

Christian F. Wanner photo 1944

Corporal Christian F. Wanner

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Headquarters Company, Fifteenth Army

Date of Loss: December 28, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Elmer L. Reitz photo 1944

Captain Elmer L. Reitz

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 207th Engineer Combat Battalion

Date of Loss: June 19, 1944 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.