Master Sergeant Hansen was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 24 September 1950 and returned to duty on 25 October 1950. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 25 November 1950 and died while a prisoner on 20 February 1951. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Hansen was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.