Tech. Sgt. Otto H. Hanssen
December 23, 1915–February 4, 1944
Residence: Jones, Iowa
Education: *****
Occupation: Farming
Marital Status: *****
Enlistment Date: April 1941
Enlistment Place: *****
Service/Unit: Army, 168th Infantry, 34th Division
Service #: 37042492
Awards: Purple Heart
Burial: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Provincia di Roma, Lazio, Italy
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SGT. HANSSEN
Memorial services were held Sunday at the Congregational church for Tech. Sgt. Otto H. Hanssen with the Rev. Homer E. Dalrymple officiating.
Otto Henry Hanssen was born at Monticello, Dec. 23, 1915, the son of Arthur and Blanche Hanssen. He attended the Monticello schools and until his induction into the army in April 1941, he was engaged in farming.
He received his training at Camp Claiborne, La., and was later sent to Fort Dix, N. J. His last furlough at home was in March, 1942 and he left for overseas duty in May. Being a member of the 34th division, he took part in the invasion of North Africa and Italy. He was wounded in the North African campaign. On Feb. 4, 1944, Tech. Sgt. Hanssen along with several other men volunteered to seek out German machine guns in the vicinity of Cassino. He failed to return from this mission and no definite word as to how Tech. Sgt. Hanssen met his death has been received.
He was preceded in death by his mother who died in 1942. He is survived by his father, Arthur E. Hanssen; his grandmother, Mrs. O. P. Hanssen, Monticello; two brothers, CM 1/c Paul Hanssen, in the Pacific, and George Hanssen at home; six sisters, Mrs. Avelda Coffin, San Diego, Calif., Mrs. Muriel Highley, Mrs. Mary Jones and Mrs. Dorothy Lloyd of Anamosa, Mrs. Margaret Starkey and Mrs. Eileen Tompkins of Monticello
Source: Monticello Express, Monticello, Iowa, April 12, 1945
Note: Sgt. Hanssen was officially declared dead in February, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and it was sent to his father, Arthur Hanssen.
