State Heroes
World War II
1944
Pvt. Vincent J. Lesmeister
New Rockford, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 17, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1944
Private First Class Jack C. Beckwith
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 395th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 99th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 16, 1944 / Age: 20
He died on 16 December 1944 in the first hours of the Battle of the Bulge while defending hill 627. His remains were left behind as the enemy advanced. After the war the Army deemed him unrecoverable.
1944
Private First Class Johannes "Johnny" Gehring
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 110th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 28th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 16, 1944 / Age: 21
Army Private First Class Gehring experienced a critical situation which ultimately resulted in the loss of his life near Belgium.
1944
1st Lt. Hugh J. Hazlett
Grand Forks, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 28th Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group
Date of Loss: December 15, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status. Casualty of the Oryoku Maru.
1944
Major Gordon A. Utke
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 31st Infantry Regiment
Date of Loss: December 15, 1944 / Age: 29
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Pvt. Robert P. Ployhar
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 409th Infantry Regiment, 103th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 15, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action near France.
1944
PFC Melvin G. Beyer
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 15, 1944 / Age:
Killed in action in France.
1944
Lt. Frederick Hugh J. Hankins
Parshall, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: December 14, 1944 / Age: 26
Died while in MIA status. Buried at sea near the Philippines.
1944
Tech. 5c Clarence H. Steckler
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 709th Tank Battalion
Date of Loss: December 14, 1944 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1944
Private Stephen Olason
Hensel, ND
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 14, 1944 / Age: 24
After training at various centers he was sent to Burma and placed in an airborne crew. While thus engaged he was killed in action Dec. 14, 1944.
1944
Sgt. Everett L. Corbin
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 14, 1944 / Age: 27
Killed in action near France.
1944
Chief Pharmacist Mate John C. Ulmer
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: December 13, 1944 / Age: 36
Chief Pharmacist's Mate John Cassady Ulmer, United States Navy, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his death while still in captivity.
1944
PFC Melvin H. Schuster
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 409th Infantry Regiment, 103th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 13, 1944 / Age: 22
Killed in action near France.
1944
Private First Class Lloyd E. Burns
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 334th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 84th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 12, 1944 / Age: 24
Died in service in Germany
1944