Record 526/959 Catalog Record World War II Exhibit Page Home Search Description  Tin-washed steel combination fork and spoon from a WWII German mess kit. Each utensil is about 5.750" long and is riveted together approximately 1" from end. When open, overall length of utensil is 9.750". Fork has four tines and spoon has large 3.250" long bowl. The two pieces swivel together and fold into a compact unit. Probably acquired as a war souvenir, or for his own use, by Adrian Hansen. Adrian Donald Hansen was born in Eldorado, WI on 02/07/1919, the son of Margaret May Griffiths Hansen and Pearl Steven Hansen. He attended Slough Bridge School, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Before World War II, he worked for his father and the Wisconsin Diamond Match Company. He entered the U. S. Army on September 29, 1942. He was in the 1st Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, 325 Glider Infantry. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in action in France in 1944. He also received the good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon with one Silver Star for gallantry in action and one Bronze Battle Star for service above and beyond the call of duty, Glider Badge, five overseas Service Bars, Distinguished Unit Badge, Bronze Service Arrowhead, Combat Infantryman Badge and glider Wings. He also received a Presidential Citation for volunteering to go behind enemy lines to rescue troops in the Battle of the Bulge. He served with the 325th glider Infantry in French Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Ireland, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. He was part of the Normandy Invasion on D-Day. He served in Foreign Service for 2 years, 4 months, 16 days. He was honorably discharged on September 22, 1945. He returned to the Diamond Match Company to work until it closed. He worked for the Turner Horse Stables and the Universal Foundry, Oshkosh until he retired at age 62. He died 09/08/1998 in Oshkosh WI.

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Last modified on: July 22, 2007