WWII FALLEN HEROES – Three Herr brothers from Day County, South Dakota.

The US 12 Westbound bridge over the railroad three miles west of Groton, South Dakota, was dedicated to RM2 Ordien Herr, LT LeRoy Herr, and RM2 Eugene L. Herr on Aug. 5, 2024.
Navy RM2 Eugene Le Mont Herr – Eugene was first reported as missing in action when he was serving on the USS Johnston, which was sunk at the Battle of Samar. Eugene survived the sinking, but died two days later, October 25, 1944, from exhaustion and exposure.

Naval Air Force Lt. Leroy Myron Herr – Having completed over 38 missions during the war, LeRoy’s PV1 Ventura bomber crashed while flying over Catalina Island September 25, 1945.
Navy RM2 Ordien Fenmore Herr – Torpedo Squadron 11 – On June 8, 1943, a transport carrying personnel to Sydney Australia crashed leaving Tontouta Airfield, New Caledonia.

Approximately three minutes after takeoff the plane was seen going into a low turn and disappeared from sight. During the initial climb, one of the engines failed. The pilot tried to return to the airfield, but the aircraft stalled and crashed. The wreckage of the plane was in the water of St. Vincent’s Bay about 100 yards from shore. A total of 24 men were killed, one of which was Ordien Herr.
— https://vetaffairs.sd.gov/resources/Fallen%20Hero%20Bridge%20Dedications/2024/FHBD%20-%20Herr%20Brothers.pdf