Henry O Hansen
| Henry O. Hansen | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 14, 1919 Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 1, 1945 Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands |
| Status | KIA |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1938–1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Service number | |
| Unit | Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division |
| Commands held | |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
| Relations | |
| Later work | |
Henry Oliver "Hank" Hansen (December 14, 1919 – March 1, 1945) was a United States Marine who took part in the first U.S. flag raising atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.
A career Marine who enlisted in 1938 and served as a Paramarine, Hansen was a sergeant in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines.
Flag raising on Mount Suribachi
Hansen helped raise the first (smaller) flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. For nearly two years afterward he was mistakenly credited as the Marine at the base of the flagstaff in Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the second flag raising, until the Marine Corps corrected the identification to Cpl. Harlon Block in January 1947. Hansen was not one of the six second-flag raisers.
Legacy
Hansen was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 1, 1945.