World War II Honoree

George William Hance, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Heath Springs, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE U.S. NAVY AT COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA ON APRIL 1, 1943. HE HAD TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS AT CAMP PERRY, VIRGINIA, CAMP ENDICOTT, RHODE ISLAND, WITH CONSTRUCTION BATTALION DETACHMENTS IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS AND CAMP PARKS, CALIFORNIA, AND AT THE GENERAL LINE OFFICER SCHOOL IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA BEFORE JOINING HIS SHIP, THE USS LCI (L) 795 IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORINA IN OCTOBER, 1944. THE LANDING CRAFT ARRIVED IN PEARL HARBOR ON FEBRUARY 7, 1945 AND ENIWETOK IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ON MARCH 16. FROM THERE THEY PROCEEDED TO ULITHI IN THE WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING ON MARCH 24. ON MAY 29, THEY ARRIVED AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, SERVING AS A DIVISION OFFICER AND THE SHIP’S FIRST LIEUTENANT. ON NOVEMBER 4, 1945 HIS SHIP DEPARTED THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FOR ITS RETURN TO THE STATES. HE WAS RELIEVED OF ACTIVE DUTY AT THE 6TH NAVAL DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA ON FEBRUARY 10, 1946 WITH THE RANK OF ENSIGN. HE EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL.