State Heroes

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. 

Seaman 2c Wilferd D. Palmer

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oaklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

Fireman 1c Edward D. Johnson

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status. Crew member aboard the USS Oklahoma, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remains not recovered.

Seaman 1c Leslie H. Fischer

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

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

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

RM2c Walter H. 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 Earl Nermoe

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS West Virginia

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

Navy Seaman 1C Class Earl Nermoe was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia that was hit by two bombs and at least seven torpedoes from Japanese airplanes on Dec. 7, 1941.

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 2c Calvin H. Palmer

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Oklahoma

Date of Loss: December 07, 1941 / Age:

Died while in MIA status.

GM3c John M. Emery

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

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

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

EM2C Steve L. Lesmeister

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Arizona

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

A native of Selz, North Dakota. Killed in action on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii while serving aboard the battleship USS Arizona.

S1c Vernon J. Eidsvig

World War II

Branch of Service: Navy

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: USS Utah

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

Served aboard the USS Utah and was reported MIA following the attack on Pearl Harbor. 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.

Seaman 1c George W. Hammerud

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.

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

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