By DEVILS LAKE JOURNAL | | Published: April 8, 2021 BOWMAN, N.D. (Tribune News Service) - The last North Dakota National Guard World War II soldier known to be residing in North Dakota died in Bowman on April 3, just weeks shy of his 97th birthday. Douglas P. “Doug” Burtell, who served in the famed 164th Infantry Regiment, was the last original member of the unit residing in North Dakota. Burtell was only 16 years old when he joined the North Dakota National Guard in Fargo in late 1940. Assigned to the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Section of the Infantry Regiment he was trained to interpret aerial photographs, draw maps based on reconnaissance patrols, and analyze captured materials.
Apr 6, 2021
BISMARCK – The last North Dakota National Guard World War II (WWII) soldier known to be residing in North Dakota died in Bowman on April 3, just weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
Douglas P. “Doug” Burtell, who served in the famed 164th Infantry Regiment, was the last original member of the unit residing in North Dakota.
Burtell was only 16 years old when he joined the North Dakota National Guard in Fargo in late 1940. Assigned to the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Section of the Infantry Regiment he was trained to interpret aerial photographs, draw maps based on reconnaissance patrols, and analyze captured materials.