State Heroes

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Arthur Clarence Neuenschwander

Fessenden, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 34

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:

Private Byron G. Elliott

World War II

Branch of Service: Army

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 5th AAF Bomber Group

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20

Killed in action during the Pearl Harbor attack in Hickham Field, Hawaii

Fire Controlman 2c Elroy V. Peterson

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Radioman 3c Donald J. Kusie

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 20

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Seaman 1c Kenneth E. Gebhardt

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 23

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

RM2c Walter Howard Backman

Wilton, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 22

Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His body was recovered July 17, 2017.

Seaman 1c Joseph Schdowski

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. USS Arizona. Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Fireman 2c Albert Renner

Mandan, ND

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

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

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

Electrician's Mate 3C Glen E. Nicholson

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died in MIA status. Killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains Not recovered. 

Lt. Commander Paul J. Register

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 42

Killed in action when the USS Arizona was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at the beginning of WWII.

Seaman 1c Howard H. Kukuk

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered. 

Coxswain Chester F. Klesit

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33

Killed in action in the attack on Pearl Harbor

Coxswain Fred Zimmerman

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status after the attack on Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona. Remains not recovered. 

F2c Frank P. Bernard

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Killed in action during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Petty Officer Elmer L. Carpenter

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS California

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age: 33

Died in service in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii