Hans Anton Hansen (April 9, 1877 – August 23, 1949) was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Boxer Rebellion who received the Medal of Honor for bravery. The US sailor who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery is not the Medal of Honor recipient and his grave is mismarked.
Hans A. Hansen | |
---|---|
Born | Korsør, Denmark | April 9, 1877
Died | August 23, 1949 Toms River, New Jersey, US | (aged 72)
Place of burial | Riverside Cemetery Toms River, New Jersey |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1899–1903 |
Rank | Seaman |
Unit | USS Newark (C-1) |
Battles / wars | Boxer Rebellion |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Military service
editHansen was born April 9, 1877, in Korsør, Denmark. After immigrating to the United States through the Port of San Francisco on August 29, 1899, he enlisted in United States Navy and was sent as a seaman aboard the USS Newark (C-1) to China to fight in the Boxer Rebellion.[1]
Medal of Honor citation
editRank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 55, 19 June 1901.
Hansen's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Served with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China on 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. In the presence of the enemy during this period, Hansen distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.[1]
Death and burial
editMedal of Honor recipient Hans A. Hansen died August 23, 1949, at Toms River, New Jersey, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Toms River, New Jersey.
Hansen's obituary in the August 24, 1949 Asbury Park, New Jersey Press newspaper read:
Hans Anton Hansen TOMS RIVER. - Hans Anton Hansen, 71, died yesterday on the porch of his home at 72 Dayton avenue. Mr. Hansen was a veteran of the Spanish–American war and received the Congressional Medal of Honor. He came to Toms River to operate a pigeon farm which he later gave up because of poor health. He was a member of the Leonard A. Wood post of the Spanish–American War Veterans, Lakewood. Mr. Hansen was born in Denmark. He leaves his wife, Mary E. Hansen; a son William A. Hansen, who is on a naval reserve officers training cruise in the South Pacific, and two sisters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Arrangements are in charge of the Anderson, Campbell and Apgar funeral home.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "HANSEN, HANS A". Medal of Honor recipients, China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion). United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-01-03.