Harold D. Hansen

Harold Dale Hansen (June 27, 1904 – January 4, 1987) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. A veteran of several conflicts, he trained as Quartermaster officer and distinguished himself as Quartermaster of Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific during World War II.

Hansen rose to the general's rank and served successively as Director of Material Division, Supply Department and as Assistant Quartermaster of the Marine Corps, before he retired from active duty in June 1961.

Early career

Harold D. Hansen was born on June 27, 1904, in Ithaca, Nebraska, and following the graduation from high school in Wahoo, Nebraska, in summer 1923, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. While at the Academy, Hansen was active in football and also served as Manager of the Tennis team and was nicknamed "Swede" due to his Scandinavian name.

Upon graduation with Bachelor of Science degree on June 2, 1927, Hansen was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for officers' instruction. He completed the instruction in January 1928 and was attached to the 11th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Brigade, with which he sailed for expeditionary duty to Nicaragua.

World War II and later career

Upon his promotion to Major in July 1941, Hansen returned to the United States and assumed duty as Quartermaster of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing under Major General Roy S. Geiger at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He moved with the Wing to San Diego following the United States entry into World War II in December 1941 and remained in that capacity until August 1942, when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.

Hansen was transferred back to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., in July 1959 and assumed duty as Director, Material Division, Supply Department under Major General Roy M. Gulick. He remained in that capacity until January 1960, when he was appointed an Assistant Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps and Deputy to new Quartermaster chief, Major General Chester R. Allen. While in this capacity, he was co-responsible for the support of development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of general supply, Mortuary Affairs, subsistences, petroleum and water, material and distribution management during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Marine Corps units. He also held additional duty as Deputy President of Naval Physical Disability Review Board.

Retirement

Hansen remained in this capacity until his retirement on June 30, 1961, when he retired after 34 years of active duty. He then settled in Philadelphia, where he was active in Crime Prevention Association, and the Boy Scouts. Hansen lived in Philadelphia with his wife until his death on January 4, 1987, aged 82. Brigadier general Harold D. Hansen was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. He and his wife, Elizabeth Keys Lammie Hansen, had two children, a daughter, Dale Subkow and a son, Harold D. Hansen Jr., U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Harold D. Hansen: