World War II Honoree

Owen D. Hanson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Colby, Wisconsin

Honored By

Ms. Barbara E. Peterson

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED THE ARMY ON FEBRUARY 3, 1943. HE HAD BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP HOWZE, TEXAS. HE LEFT SAN FRANCISCO ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1943 AND WAS SHIPPED TO HAWAII, WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 40TH DIVISION, 160TH INFANTRY, 2ND BATTALION, COMPANY E. HE BECAME THE SQUAD LEADER FOR THE 2ND PLATOON. HE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLES OF GUADALCANAL, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AND THE LIBERATION OF LUZON. HE WAS ON A SHIP THAT WAS FORMING A CONVOY TO INVADE JAPAN WHEN PEACE WAS ANNOUNCED. HE RETURNED TO PANAY WHERE HE PROCESSED JAPANESE TROOPS THAT HAD BEEN HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS. HE WAS THEN STATIONED IN KOREA WITH THE ARMY OCCUPATIONAL FORCES. HE WAS DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT ON DECEMBER 17, 1945 AT CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN. HE RECEIVED 4 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HE SERVED FOR 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS, AND 9 DAYS OF CONTINENTAL SERVICE AND 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, AND 7 DAYS OF FOREIGN SERVICE.