State Heroes
World War II
1944
S1c Reynold M. Bergman
Ransom, NDWorld 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.
1944
Private First Class Robert E. Rupert
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 23
Killed in action in Leyte, Philippine Islands
1944
Private Thomas J. Jereski
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 50th Engineer Combat Battalion
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 28
Killed in action in Leyte
1944
Staff Sergeant Bernard H. Halaas
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 383rd Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 24
Killed in action in Leyte, Philippine Islands
1944
MM3c Alcide E. Brillon
Walhalla, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Private First Class Clayton E. Verke
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 361st Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 91st Infantry Division
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 23
Killed in action in Italy
1944
Gunner's Mate 3c Jerome A. Zespy
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 off of Leyte, when a ship exploded near a cruiser on which he was stationed.
1944
Capt. Frederick J. Gerlich
Dickinson, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 59th Coast Artillery Regiment
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 29
Died while in POW status after being assigned to the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment charged with harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th Regiment manned the seacoast artillery on Corregidor Island.
1944
Pvt. Carl H. Franklin
Goodrich, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 194th Tank Battalion
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 25
Died while in POW status on the Japanese ship "Arisan Maru", when it was sunk by an American submarine in the South China Sea. There were 1,803 POWs on the ship, only 9 of which survived the sinking.
1944
Pvt. Harold L. Briggs
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Strategic Air Forces
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Gunner's Mate 2c Fritz A. Wollerman
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 23
Died while in MIA status - buried at sea.
1944
Coxswain Alvin L. Schultz
Bottineau, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age: 28
Died while in MIA status. Killed aboard the USS Birmingham.
1944
Pvt. Lewis R. Larson
World War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 30th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Loss: October 24, 1944 / Age:
Died while in POW status. Killed aboard a Japanese ship when it was hit by torpedoes in the South China Sea.Â
1944
Water Tender 2c Albert L. Molzahn
Minot, NDWorld 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.
1944
Baker 1st Class Kenton E. Kuebker
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: October 25, 1944 / Age: 25
On 24 October, U.S.S. Albert W. Grant joined TG 77.2 and sailed to engage a Japanese task force reported steaming northward from the Sulu Sea toward Surigao Strait.