Record 540/959 |
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Description
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| Purple Heart medal, ribbon, and lapel pin in a flat black fiberboard hinged box lined with plush gold colored fabric. Gold embossed decorations on outer surface and the words "PURPLE HEART" in gold on the cover. Medal consists of purple ribbon with white edge stripes and heart-shaped gold medal with gold bust of George Washington in center set against a purple background, white shield and stars at top. Reverse reads: "FOR MILITARY MERIT." Ribbon and lapel pin are purple in center with white bars at each end. The Purple Heart is America's oldest military decoration and the first American award medal made available to the common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by General George Washington. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy, and posthumously to next of kin in the name of those killed in action or who die of wounds. Awarded to Adrian Hansen, a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during World War II who was wounded in Normandy June 14, 1944. 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. |
Medal
-WORLD WAR II
-Copyright Oshkosh Public Museum
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ For access to this image, contact scross@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ For access to this image, contact scross@ci.oshkosh.wi.us