World War II Honoree

Knute Hansston

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Watsonville, California

Honored By

John Gavello

Relationship

Grandson

LIEUTENANT COLONEL, WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 275TH COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, PART OF THE 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION. IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE THE 275TH SUPPORTED ATTACKS AGAINST ENEMY POSITIONS AROUND VIELSALM AND SALMCHATEAU BY BRIDGING THE SALM RIVER. LATER ATTACHED TO THE FRENCH FIRST ARMY, THE 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION TOOK PART IN THE ATTACK ON COLMAR BY STAGING A DIVERSIONARY EFFORT ALONG THE L'ILL RIVER, THE WESTERN-MOST TRIBUTARY OF THE RHINE, INCLUDING A FEINTED BRIDGING ATTEMPT BY THE 275TH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 275TH SUPPORTED ATTACKS BY THE DIVISION IN THE RUHR BY BUILDING MORE THAN 50 BRIDGES ACROSS CANALS. THE 275TH NEXT FOUND ITSELF IN OCCUPATION DUTIES IN EISENACH, GERMANY, WHERE IN APRIL, 1945, AS THE REGIONAL COMMANDER, HE ISSUED AN ORDER DIRECTING THAT THE DAMAGED HOUSE WHERE THE COMPOSER BACH WAS BORN BE SAVED.