State Heroes

Machinist First Class Duane Larson Poissant

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Juneau

Date of Loss: November 13, 1942 / Age: 22

The USS Juneau participated in a number of naval engagements during the months-long Guadalcanal Campaign beginning in August 1942.

Private Theodore Alleckson

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:36th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: July 17, 1942 / Age:

Killed in action while flying aboard 41-9126. United States territory. Remains not recovered. 

Private First Class Leonard J. Oberg

Nash, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

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

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

Died while in MIA status.

Seaman Second Class Wayne F. Fegley

Berthold, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

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

Date of Loss: November 13, 1942 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status. Stationed on the USS Monssen during the Battle of Guadalcanal, when the ship was sunk by a Japanese destroyer. Body was not recovered.

COX Marvin Lee Ramsden

Pleasant Lake, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Lexington

Date of Loss: May 08, 1942 / Age: 23

He was killed in action on 8 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. He was credited with downing 26 Japanese aircraft that day before he was killed.

Sergeant Robert F. Lilley

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:68th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: December 06, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Killed during a mission targeting the Abbeville-Drucat Airdome.

Seaman First Class Orlan R. Cool

Westhope, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy

Date of Loss: February 18, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Private Benjamin Lux

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: May 06, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

First Lieutenant Lyle A. Slocum

Ellendale, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:36th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: June 04, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Was a B-17 crew member flying aboard 41-9084.

Seaman Second Class Wallace E. Green

Cartwright, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Navy

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

Date of Loss: June 28, 1942 / Age: 25

Died while on board the SS Tillie Lykes, an American steam merchant, when it was torpedoed by a German submarine about 100 miles south of the Dominican Republic. His body was lost at sea and was not recovered.

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

Captain Joseph H. Nesbit

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:First Squadron

Date of Loss: November 24, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

First Lieutenant Arthur E. Reddig

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:359th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: November 23, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Lt. Reddig was a pilot on a B-17, killed during a mission to St. Nazaire, flying aboard 41-24568 "Lady Fairweather".

Private First Class Robert A. Norby

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Air Force

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 77th Bomber Squadron, 28th Bomber Group, Heavy

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:"77th Bomber Squadron

Date of Loss: September 02, 1942 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Private First Class Richard G. Colbert

Harlem Township, ND

World War II (WWII)

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Sixth Infantry

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

Date of Loss: November 08, 1942 / Age: 22

Died while in MIA status.

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: