PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Jack Hanson to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point
Sioux City Marine Veteran Chosen to Represent Iowa’s Purple Heart Veterans as Part of the
2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient has been chosen to be one of the nation’s 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army Reserves Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Jack Hanson, a Vietnam War veteran, will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Iowa’s representative at a multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of American’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The all-expense-paid trip includes visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the newly renovated National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other tributes to service.
“Jack and his fellow Patriot Project honorees are true American heroes,” said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “America’s Purple Heart veterans have given so much to defend freedom and that sacrifice must always be remembered. We are privileged to be able to provide this unique salute to service for our Purple Heart heroes.”
“Our Purple Heart recipients have made enormous sacrifices for America and this is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, this will be like the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we look forward to honoring Jack for his lifelong sacrifice and service to his community,” said Col. Russ Vernon (Ret.), executive director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Mr. Hanson, who served in various military capacities over a 27-year career said, “…it was tough, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Jack Hanson joined the U.S. Navy Reserves in 1965, during his senior year of high school. After graduating in 1966, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served on active duty for six years. Deployed to Vietnam in November 1967, then-PFC Hanson was awarded the Purple Heart as a results of fragment wounds he suffered from exploding shrapnel and mortar shells during a clash on January 8, 1968, near Thau Thien, South Vietnam. After a Gunnery Sergeant yelled at Hanson, who had been sleeping in his tent at the time the attack started, to get out of his tent or he was going to get killed, Hanson quickly was called to action manning the gun firing high explosive (HE) rounds back at the enemy. After a lull in the back-and-forth, a mortar round landed behind Hanson’s position, blowing him into the air and wounding him with shrapnel. After recovering from his wounds, Hanson returned to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, still serving in Vietnam at that time.
Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, Sgt. Hanson went on to serve for Army Reserves for over two decades, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM). Hanson’s commitment to service continued beyond his roles in military. He served as a policeman in Fremont, Nebraska, for 16 years. Today he continues to give back to his community through his involvement with the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), where he serves as Junior Vice Commander for the MOPH Department of Iowa.
In addition to his Purple Heart, Mr. Hanson received numerous commendations and awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and more. He was nominated to take part in the Patriot Project mission by Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Iowa Past Commander Robert Suesakul of Killduff, Iowa’s honoree during the 2019 Purple Heart Patriot Project.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, at the site where General George Washington first awarded the Medal for Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The badge, shaped like a purple heart was the forerunner of today’s medal. In addition to creation of the museum, supporters of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission were instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp now issued by the US Postal Service and are leading the effort to pass the National Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Act, which currently awaits the President’s signature.
Those wishing to learn more about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission or donate to support the Purple Heart Patriot Project should visit www.PurpleHeartMission.org.
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