Matthew Ignatius Pionk, age 30, from Superior, Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Hht, 3D Squadron, 2D Cavalry, Vilseck, Germany
Date of death: Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Death details: Hostile; Sinsil, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Kenneth Michael Cross, age 21, from Superior, Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company C, 1St Battalion, 23D Infantry, 3D Sbct, (4Id), Fort Lewis, Wa
Date of death: Sunday, August 27, 2006
Death details: Hostile; Baghdad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Adam John Vanalstine, age 21, from Superior, Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: I Co, 3 Bn, 7Th Mar (2-28 Bct, 2D Mardiv) 1St Mardiv, Twentynine Palms, Ca
Date of death: Saturday, February 25, 2006
Death details: Hostile; Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Franklin D. Defenbaugh, age 37, from Superior, Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Parents: Edith Larson
Spouse: Joyce (Gerard)
Children: David, 8
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Source: National Archives, Streator Daily Times (1970)
Donald Jon Severson, age 20, from Superior, Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Parents: Donald J. Severson Sr.
Spouse: Lynne Severson
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Superior High (1968)
Date of death: Wednesday, July 22, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam
Cemetery: Hibbing, Minnesota
Source: National Archives, Minneapolis Star (1970)
Jay Henry Zweifel, age 22, from Douglas County Black River Falls, Wisconsin .
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, April 10, 1963
Death details: Killed aboard the atomic submarine Thresher when the ship went missing 220 miles East of Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Source: ussthresher.com, Associated Press (1963), oneternalpatrol.com, Appleton Post Crescent (1963)
George Edward Zanuzoski, age 24, from Douglas County Superior, Wisconsin .
Spouse: Harriet S. Zanuzoski
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Tuesday, January 22, 1946
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Sheboygan Press (1944)
William P. Ward from Wisconsin, Douglas county.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, July 30, 1945
Death details: Died, non-battle
Cemetery: Zachary Taylor National
Source: National Archives, grave marker
Vincent J. Wiles from Douglas County Superior, Wisconsin .
Parents: Delia Wiles
Service era: World War II
Military history: 128 Infantry 32 Division
Date of death: Saturday, November 21, 1942
Death details: In November 1942, the U.S. Army’s 32nd Infantry Division regained control of Buna, Papua New Guinea, with its goal of neutralizing an enemy threat to Port Moresby and, ultimately, to the Australian mainland itself. The rugged terrain that the soldiers faced was fiercely defended by Japanese troops and included tidal swamplands with a labyrinth of camouflaged trenches and bunkers. In December 1942, when the 32nd Infantry Division was reinforced with Australian soldiers, Buna finally fell to the Allies; however, malaria and other tropical diseases contributed to a high number of casualties and deaths for the 32nd Infantry Division. Private First Class Vincent J. Wiles entered the U.S. Army from Wisconsin and served in Company B of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On November 21, 1942, Company B launched an attack against enemy positions on the edge of a coconut grove at Cape Endiadere, Buna. Private First Class Wiles was last seen during this attack, and other members of his unit reported that PFC Wiles most likely died during the attack or after being taken prisoner. However, specific details regarding his loss could not be confirmed, and a finding of death was issued as of December 9. Attempts to recover his remains have been unsuccessful, and he was not identified among the remains disinterred from the area following the war. Today, Private First Class Wiles is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Ralph Herman Anderson from Douglas County Superior, Wisconsin .
Parents: Charles Anderson
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, March 1, 1942
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Houston when the ship was attacked traveling from Batavia to Java.
Cemetery: Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery
Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commision, Stoughton Courier (1946)