State Heroes

1969

Specialist David Ira Styles

Langdon, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: HHC

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 3rd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 11th Infantry Brigade

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 1st Infantry Division

Date of Loss: March 29, 1969 / Age: 20

MOS 91B20 (Medical NCO)

Ground casualty died outright on 3/29/1969 by Hostile gun/small arms fire in the Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.

1969

Lance Corporal Richard Anthony Volk

Minot, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery E

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 2nd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 12th Marine Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: March 19, 1969 / Age: 19

Killed in action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam through non-hostile accidental homicide. 

1969

Specialist 4 Lawrence Robert Esser

Minot, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 3rd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 34th Artillery Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 9th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: March 12, 1969 / Age: 21

He was killed in action in Kien Hoa, South Vietnam in hostile action by artillery rocket mortar. 

1969

Specialist 4 Danny Leroy Hanson

Stirum, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company A

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 5th Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 60th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 9th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: March 08, 1969 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Long An, South Vietnam through hostile action. 

1969

Sergeant Dale George Helgeson

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 2nd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 14th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 25th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: March 01, 1969 / Age: 24

Killed in action in Binh Long, South Vietnam through hostile action by small arms fire. 

1969

Colonel Wendell Richard Keller

Fargo, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Air Force

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 433rd Tactical Figher Squadron

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 8th Tactical Fighter Wing

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 7th Air Force

Date of Loss: March 01, 1969 / Age: 40

On March 1, 1969, Keller and Meroney were the crew of an F-4D Phantom II aircraft that crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Khammouan Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing the aircraft hit by enemy fire.

1969

Specialist 4 Allan J. Restemayer

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: March 01, 1969 / Age: 20

Died in service

1969

Sergeant Robert Alvin Brothen

Minot, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company D

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 1st Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 26th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 1st Infantry Division

Date of Loss: February 27, 1969 / Age: 22

Killed in action in Binh Duong, South Vietnam in hostile action by small arms fire. 

1969

Lance Corporal Larry Joseph Sikorski

Fairmount, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Marines

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Battery H

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 3rd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 12th Marine Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 3rd Marine Division

Date of Loss: February 25, 1969 / Age: 21

At approximately 0530H Fire Support Base Russell came under attack by hostile forces with mortars and rifle fire. Larry died as a result of fragmentation wounds to the chest area from mortar fire.

1969

Specialist 5 Jon Paris Robbins

Dickinson, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 1st Logistical Command

Date of Loss: February 23, 1969 / Age: 21

Killed in action by hostile small arms fire in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. 

1969

Staff Sergeant Ward Cecil Evans

Harwood, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 1st Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 11th Infantry

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

Date of Loss: February 08, 1969 / Age: 28

Military Region 1, In Quang Tri, South Vietnam

Hostile, ground casualty
Gun, small arms fire

1969

Specialist 4 David Peter Haegele

Napoleon, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent: Company B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent: 1st Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade: 5th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: 25th Infantry Division

Date of Loss: February 08, 1969 / Age: 20

On February 08, 1969, the Recon Platoon conducted a RIF southwest of Trung Lap in the area of XT 5619. Companies A and B were conducting a RIF 2 kilometers east of Trung Lap in the area of XT 6222. Scattered contact started at around 1200 hours.

1969

Captain Ernest E Bartolina Jr.

Bismarck, ND

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Marines

Regiment / Group / Brigade: Marine Aircraft Group 16, HMN 364

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent: III Marine Amphibious Force

Date of Loss: February 07, 1969 / Age: 26

In Quang Nam, South Vietnam
Hostile, Helicopter - Pilot
Air loss, Crash on land

1969

1st Lieutenant Roger Douglas Knudtson

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Marines

Date of Loss: February 04, 1969 / Age: 24

Roger was in a UH-34D helicopter that collided in mid-air with another UH-34D and he died as a result of multiple injuries when the UH-34D
crashed and burned. 

1969

Specialist 4 Robert Clyde Hausken

Vietnam

Branch of Service: Army

Date of Loss: January 22, 1969 / Age: 21

Died in service in Fargo, ND following an illness of several months.