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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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Also Remembered At
Newton Center, MA
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Born: February 4, 1920 at
Lucknow, India
Entered Service in the US
Marine Corps from Massachusetts
Earned
The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism November 1,
1943 - January 24, 1944 in
the air over Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands, and New
Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.
Died: February
3, 1944 at the age of 23
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First
Lieutenant Hanson served as fighter pilot attached to Marine
Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at
Bougainville Island and New Britain Island, from November 1,
1943 to 24 January 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition, and
fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant
Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring
aggressiveness. On November 1, while flying cover for our
landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly
attacked six enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison
their bombs and destroying one Japanese plane during the action.
Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a
high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on January 24, First
Lieutenant Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against
hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers
and, striking with devastating fury, brought down four Zeroes
and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both
pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air
combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this
theater of war. He was killed in action on February 3, 1944.
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