Herbert A. Hansen
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 12 January 1944, Second Lieutenant Herbert A. Hansen was serving with the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, Fifth U.S. Army in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

On that day, 2LT Hansen’s unit was in action against German forces in the vicinity of Cervero, Italy, during the Italian Campaign. 2LT Hansen led his company in an assault on German positions and, as the attack progressed, the company was pinned down by intense machine gun fire. Using an automatic rifle, 2LT Hansen advanced around the flank of the machine gun nest to put direct fire on the enemy. Alone, he fired into the group of Germans and destroyed the position, enabling his company to continue the attack. Firing his automatic rifle as he advanced, 2LT Hansen led his men in breaking all enemy resistance and in securing the objective. During this action he was mortally wounded, but refused to be evacuated. 2LT Hansen’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Herbert A. Hansen (ASN: 0-2055398), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 12 January 1944, in the vicinity of Cervero, Italy. Second Lieutenant Hansen led his company in an assault on strong enemy positions. As the attack progressed his company became pinned down by intense machine gun fire. Second Lieutenant Hansen took an automatic rifle and advanced around the flank of the machine gun nest in order to fire point blank at the enemy. Alone and unaided, he fired into the enemy group and destroyed the position, allowing his company to continue the attack. Firing his automatic rifle as he advanced, Second Lieutenant Hansen led his men in breaking all enemy resistance and in securing the objective. During this action he was mortally wounded, but refused to be evacuated until his company had (Remainder of Citation missing).

General Orders: Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 91 (May 29, 1944)

Burial

Second Lieutenant Herbert A. Hansen is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy in Plot G, Row 4, Grave 19.

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