World War II Honoree

George Leroy Hanis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Las Animas, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman First Class. Inducted into the United States Navy June 2, 1941 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Neosho Tanker/Oiler, AO-23 for duty as an on-the-job trainee. The Tanker and her shipmates participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea against the Imperial Japanese Naval Aviators (Battle Dates: May 4-8, 1942) Location: South Pacific Theater of Operations. On the Eighth of May at 11:00 hours, the Tanker came under attack, and she went down after sustaining multiple bomb strikes. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.