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First Name: Eugene

Last Name: Hancock

Birthplace: Washington, DC, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating: Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 2nd Class

Home of Record: Gainesville, FL
Middle Name: Scott



Date of Birth: 02 June 1946

Date of Death: 24 February 1969

Rank or Rate: Petty Officer Second Class

Years Served: 1967 - 1969
Eugene Scott Hancock

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Eugene Scott Hancock
Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy

Eugene Scott Hancock enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 21 February 1967 and entered service on 19 June 1967, at Jacksonville FL.

On 24 February 1969, then-Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class Eugene Scott Hancock was serving as a Corpsman with Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam.

On that date, PO2 Hancock was with a squad from Company I conducting a search and destroy operation east of Highway 5 near La Chau (2), Hieu Duc District, in Quang Nam Province. When the unit came under a heavy volume of small-arms, automatic-weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a concealed and well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army company, it sustained several casualties. PO2 Hancock immediately proceeded to the assistance of 3 casualties, treated their wounds and, aided by his comrades, removed all 3 men to a position of relative safety. Upon observing a critically-wounded Marine lying in an area dangerously exposed to the intense enemy fire, PO2 Hancock maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and methodically applied tourniquets to the Marine's legs to stop the profuse bleeding. Assured of the casualty's immediate evacuation to friendly lines, PO2 Hancock then ran through the intense hostile fire to yet another seriously injured comrade, but he was mortally wounded by automatic-weapons fire before he could reach the Marine. PO2 Hancock's selfless heroic and inspiring efforts were directly instrumental in saving the lives of 4 Marines. PO2 Hancock's courage and dedication to duty that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Navy's second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.

At the time of his death, PO2 Hancock had been in Vietnam for only 11 days.

Medals and Awards

Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Navy Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Second Class Eugene Scott Hancock (NSN: B-317923), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 24 February 1969 while serving as a Corpsman with Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam. With a squad from Company I conducting a search and destroy operation east of Highway 5 near La Chau (2) in Quang Nam Province, when the unit came under a heavy volume of small-arms, automatic-weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a concealed and well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army company and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Hancock immediately proceeded to the assistance of three casualties, treated their wounds and, aided by his comrades, removed all three men to a position of relative safety. Upon observing a critically-wounded Marine who was lying in an area dangerously exposed to the intense enemy fire, Petty Officer Hancock maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and methodically applied tourniquets to the Marine's legs to stop the profuse bleeding. Assured of the casualty's immediate evacuation to friendly lines, Petty Office Hancock then valiantly ran through the intense hostile fire to yet another seriously injured comrade, but was himself mortally wounded by automatic-weapons fire before he could reach the Marine. By his heroic and inspiring efforts, Petty Officer Hancock was directly instrumental in saving the lives of four Marines. His courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of heavy enemy fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Honors

The name Eugene S Hancock is located on Panel 31W Line 36 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class Eugene Scott Hancock is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 53, Site 490.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16742215/eugene-scott-hancock



Honoree ID: 251420   Created by: MHOH

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