State Heroes
World War II
1944
1st Lieutenant James D. Noonan
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: January 02, 1944 / Age: 25
Died in service in Camp Barkeley, Texas
1944
Staff Sgt. Willard M. Christensen
World War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 331st Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Loss: January 01, 1944 / Age: 25
Died while in MIA status. He was a tail gunner on the Donna Mae II.
1943
Corp. George J. Gillies
Pembina, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 18th Station Complement Squadron
Date of Loss: December 31, 1943 / Age: 28
Killed in action near England.
1943
Capt. Carl F. Ekstrom
Grand Forks, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group
Date of Loss: December 30, 1943 / Age: 27
Killed in action near France.
1943
Lt. William R. Larson
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: December 27, 1943 / Age: 28
Died while in MIA status.
1943
1st Lt. Earl A. Desautel
Grafton, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: 164th Infantry Regiment, Americal Division
Date of Loss: December 27, 1943 / Age: 29
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1943
Ship's Cook 3c Jalmer Edwin Weitala
Guelph, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: December 26, 1943 / Age:
Killed in action in the Philippines.
1943
Water Tender Chief Paul V. Hanson
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: December 26, 1943 / Age: 38
Killed in action in Southwest Pacific Area
1943
1st Lieutenant Leroy W. Ista
World War II
Branch of Service: Air Force
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 352nd Fighter Squadron
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 353rd Fighter Group
Date of Loss: December 22, 1943 / Age: 24
Died while in MIA status.
1943
Staff Sergeant Orley E. Kjelgren
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: B-24H #42-7613
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 704th Bomber Squadron
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 446th Bomber Group
Date of Loss: December 22, 1943 / Age: 23
B-24H #42-7613 took off from USAAF Station 125, Bungay, England on a bombing mission over Onsabruck, Germany. They are believed to have been hit and shot down by ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Onsabruck during the war.
1943
Technician 5th Grade Ralph A. Merkel
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Date of Loss: December 20, 1943 / Age: 23
Died in service in a car accident at Camp Cooke, California
1943
Seaman 2c Robert C. Self
Flaxton, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Naval Reserve
Date of Loss: December 14, 1943 / Age:
Died while in MIA status.
1943
Ensign Richard R. McClung Jr.
World War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Date of Loss: December 13, 1943 / Age: 26
Killed in action in the Pacific Area
1943
AMM1 William Benbow
Fargo, NDWorld War II
Branch of Service: Navy
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: United States Navy
Date of Loss: December 07, 1943 / Age: 22
Killed in action. Buried at sea.
1943
Sergeant Godfrey Heinitz
World War II
Branch of Service: Army
Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D
Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 1st Battalion
Regiment / Group / Brigade: 135th Infantry Regiment
Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 34th Infantry Division
Date of Loss: December 05, 1943 / Age: 33
Killed in action in Italy