134th Infantry Regiment Website
35th Infantry Division Research Center
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website35th Infantry Division Research Center"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Donald Alfred Hansen, son of Peter William and Emma Lucille (Wright) Hansen, was born March 2, 1923 in Edmore, Michigan. He registered for the draft June 30, 1942. At the time he was working at Excello Tool and Air Craft Company in Detroit. He enlisted in the Army January 27, 1943 at Kalamazoo, Michigan and was a member of Company B, 137th Infantry Regiment. He landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy France, July 7, 1944. He was wounded in action July 14, 1944 by shell blast fragments but remained on duty. Pfc Donald A Hansen was killed in action July 17, 1944 in the vicinity of St Lo, France. He was awarded a Silver Star Medal for gallantry in the battle during which he died. He was posthumously awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge August 2, 1944. He is buried at Vinewood Cemetery, Edmore, Michigan.
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Silver Star Medal Citation |
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Private First Class Donald A Hansen, 36423201, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the * * * sector, Normandy, France, 17 July 1944.In the operation against * * * , when his platoon had been reorganized and placed in a holding position to deliver fire upon an enemy machine gun on the top floor of a three-story building, Private Hansen, with two other enlisted men, one a squad sergeant, the other a rifle grenadier, formed a patrol for the purpose of flanking the building. The patrol fired rifle grenades into the building, destroying the enemy gun and then capturing two of its crew. Private Hansen, a senior scout, then continued to advance with the squad sergeant, but was killed by fire from a hidden enemy machine gun. Private Hansen's gallantry in action, his courage and devotion to duty are in accord with the highest military traditions. Entered military service from Michigan. General Orders 37, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 27 September 1944 |
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