Floyd Arthur Wells

     Floyd Arthur Wells, a native son of North Dakota, made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation by the giving his life during WWII.

     Floyd was born at Cavalier, North Dakota, to Earl and Edna Wells on April 18, 1917, and grew up in the Fairdale (Walsh county) area along with his siblings, Clifford, Glenn, Howard, and Phyllis.  Floyd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1938, just a few years after graduating from high school in Fairdale. He served on the U.S.S. Arizona as a radioman until his death on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and he was killed in action.

     Nearly 1200 sailors and marines on board the Arizona, many of whom are still entombed in the ship at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, were killed as a result of the attack.  At the time, the Navy was unable to identify the remains of some of those recovered because of the severity of their wounds, and they were buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

     Although it was believed that Floyd went down with the ship, it was recently determined, based upon DNA and other historical evidence, that the previously unidentifiable remains of one sailor interred in the National Memorial Cemetery were that of Floyd Wells.  His remains are being returned to North Dakota, where he will be buried among other brave military men and women at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at Mandan, North Dakota, on October 1. 2019, at 1:00 p.m. with full military honors.

     Not only was Floyd a patriot and a hero, he was an outstanding student and athlete during his years at Fairdale High School.  He was awarded a scholarship to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota upon graduation from high school in recognition of his academic achievements.  He was also considered a top-notch baseball and basketball player, according to his brothers and sister.

     Floyd was also generous.  Several months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Floyd started sending money from his meager military pay to his brother Glenn so that Glenn could attend business college in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, this generous and selfless act was cut short by his death.

     We all know that war is a terrible thing but is sometimes necessary, with much loss and suffering, often with the lives of young men like Floyd. Floyd was not able to enjoy the good life like the rest of us.  Instead, answering the call to duty and service to this great country, Floyd and other members of his deceased military family gave their lives so the rest of us could live our dreams in a free and democratic society.  He would be glad that we have not forgotten the sacrifices he and many others have made in service to the United States.

     Floyd’s parents and siblings are all deceased but the following nieces and nephews survive: Darlene Erichsen (Washington),Claire Corbett (Indiana), Mary Ellen Hickey (North Dakota), and Robert Wells (North Dakota),children of Clifford Wells; Curtis Wells, (Missouri), Gail Wells (North Dakota), Glenda Rouse (Iowa), Tom Wells (North Dakota), and Laurel Wells (Wisconsin), children of Glenn E. Wells; Floyd Wells (California), child of Howard Wells; and Ann Martin (North Dakota), Terry Reichert (North Dakota), Karen Cataldi (North Dakota), and Kristy Dornacker (North Dakota), children of Phyllis Wells Reichert. Also survived by his brother-in-law, Orval Reichert (North Dakota)

     The family of Floyd Arthur Wells asks you to join with us in remembering and honoring him, as well as other veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.