TFH 6/7: PFC Jack G. Hanson, USA

Jack Glennon Hanson was born on September 18, 1930 and hailed from Escatawpa, Mississippi. He entered the United States Army at Galveston, Texas (date unknown) and by 1951 was fighting in Korea with the 31st Infantry Regiment and the 7th Infantry Division.

Private First Class Hanson was a machine gunner. In the pre-dawn hours of June 7, 1951, his unit was defending a strategic hilltop when they came under attack by a numerically superior communist force. His group was ordered to withdraw. Hanson volunteered to stay behind and cover their retreat.

What happened during Hanson's lone stand isn't exactly known, but after reading his citation for the Medal of Honor, you'll have no doubt that this was one of the greatest fighting men our Nation has ever produced.


From Medal of Honor Citations for the Korean War:


*HANSON, JACK G.


Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Pachi-dong, Korea, 7 June 1951. Entered service at: Galveston, Tex. Born: 18 September 1930, Escaptawpa, Miss. G.O. No.: 15, 1 February 1952. Citation: Pfc. Hanson, a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. The company, in defensive positions on two strategic hills separated by a wide saddle, was ruthlessly attacked at approximately 0300 hours, the brunt of which centered on the approach to the divide within range of Pfc. Hanson's machine gun. In the initial phase of the action, 4 riflemen were wounded and evacuated and the numerically superior enemy, advancing under cover of darkness, infiltrated and posed an imminent threat to the security of the command post and weapons platoon. Upon orders to move to key terrain above and to the right of Pfc. Hanson's position, he voluntarily remained to provide protective fire for the withdrawal. Subsequent to the retiring elements fighting a rearguard action to the new location, it was learned that Pfc. Hanson's assistant gunner and 3 riflemen had been wounded and had crawled to safety, and that he was maintaining a lone-man defense. After the 1st Platoon reorganized, counterattacked, and resecured its original positions at approximately 0530 hours, Pfc. Hanson's body was found lying in front of his emplacement, his machine gun ammunition expended, his empty pistol in his right hand, and a machete with blood on the blade in his left hand, and approximately 22 enemy dead lay in the wake of his action. Pfc. Hanson's consummate valor, inspirational conduct, and willing self-sacrifice enabled the company to contain the enemy and regain the commanding ground, and reflect lasting glory on himself and the noble traditions of the military service.

Jack G. Hanson, age 20 at his death, rests in peace at Robinson Cemetery in Escatawpa.