World War II Honoree

Jack Hansen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Payne County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD IN 1938. DIVISION INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE NOVEMBER 25, 1940 AND MOVED TO CAMP BOWIE, BROWNWOOD, TEXAS. PARTICIPATED IN VIII CORPS BROWNWOOD MANEUVERS, AND LOUISIANA MANEUVERS SUMMER 1941. TRANSFERRED TO CAMP BLANDING, STARKE, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 1942 AND PARTICIPATED IN CAROLINA MANEUVERS SUMMER 1942. GRADUATED FROM WILLIAM BEAUMONT GENERAL HOSPITAL, EL PASO, TEXAS AS SURGICAL TECHNICIAN DECEMBER 1942. STATIONED AT CAMP EDWARDS, FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS. SAILED FROM NEW YORK APRIL 2, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA APRIL 13, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT ON SALERNO, ITALY SEPTEMBER 1943 AND WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR ON HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY FOR GALLANTRY DURING THAT ACTION. SERVED WITH 111TH MEDICAL BATTALION DURING ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS.