State Heroes
World War II
1945
Private First Class Gordon L. Mathiason
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 17th Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 05, 1945 / Age: 20
Killed in action in Belgium
1945
Pvt. Wayne E. Mack
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 504th Parachute Infantry Regt, 82nd Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action in a paratrooper action during the Battle of the Bulge.
1945
R3C Rodney Loyd Brennan
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Ommaney Bay
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age:
Killed in Action by Japanese Suicide Plan while aboard the USS Ommaney Bay in Asiatic Theatre. (Source: Service Record WWI and WWII Garrison Community ND)
1945
Private First Class Lawrence J. Jensen
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 327th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 101st Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 24
Killed in action in France
1945
Lieutenant Commander Leonard J. Check
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Hancock
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: Fighting Squadron 7
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 33
Leonard Check became a World War II ACE credited with shooting down TWELVE enemy aircraft. He was lost in January 1945, after a mid-air collision with his wingman over Luzon, Philippine Islands.
1945
RM1c Erling N. Bakke
Jamestown, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Ommaney Bay
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 26
Died while in MIA status. Ommaney Bay South Pacific Ocean. Remains not recovered.
1945
Signalman 3c Willis E. Gentz
New England, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 19
Died while in MIA status.
1945
S1c Sidney W. Britsch
Knox, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 19
Killed in action when his battleship was attacked and sunk near the Philippines. Body was not recovered.
1945
Private First Class Twan D. Wade
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 330th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 83rd Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 23
Killed in action in Belgium
1945
Private Ronald W. Hagen
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 04, 1945 / Age: 21
Killed in action in Luxembourg
1945
Captain Maurice A. Strand
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 28th AAF Fighter Squadron
Date of Loss: January 03, 1945 / Age: 28
Killed in action in China
1945
Private First Class Alf K. Gronfur
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 101st Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 26th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: January 03, 1945 / Age: 24
Killed in action in Luxembourg
1945
Pvt. David L. Mythaler
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 501st Parachute Infantry Regt, 101st Airborne Division
Date of Loss: January 03, 1945 / Age:
Killed in action near Belgium.
1945
Private Edward Reichenberg
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 02, 1945 / Age: 30
Killed in action in Leyte, Philippine Islands
1945
Technician 4th Grade Roy D. Dahl
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 02, 1945 / Age: 27
Killed in action in Germany