Medal of Honor: Dale Merlin Hansen - World War II - May 7, 1945

Name: Dale Merlin Hansen
Rank: Private
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: World War II
Unit: Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: May 7, 1945
Location: Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands

Summary of Action

On 7 May 1945, during the savage fighting on Okinawa, Private Dale Merlin Hansen distinguished himself through extraordinary courage and relentless aggression against entrenched Japanese defenses.

At a critical stage of the battle, Hansen armed himself with a rocket launcher and crawled into an exposed position under enemy fire.

Ahead of him stood a strategically placed Japanese pillbox that threatened the Marine advance.

Without hesitation, he attacked.

Firing his rocket launcher with deadly accuracy, Hansen destroyed the enemy strongpoint.

Enemy fire soon wrecked his weapon.

But the fight was far from over.

Seizing a rifle, Hansen continued the assault alone.

Reaching the crest of a ridge, he suddenly encountered six Japanese soldiers.

Leaping forward into the open, he opened fire and killed four of them before his rifle jammed.

The remaining two enemy soldiers rushed him.

Using the butt of his rifle as a club, Hansen fought them off in brutal hand-to-hand combat before pulling back to cover.

Moments later, he returned to the fight carrying another weapon and additional grenades.

Again advancing directly into enemy fire, he assaulted and destroyed a heavily defended mortar position and killed eight more Japanese soldiers.

Throughout the engagement, Hansen remained in the forefront of the battle.

His fearless attacks shattered enemy strongpoints, inspired the Marines around him, and contributed directly to the capture of one of Okinawa’s fiercely defended positions.

His extraordinary valor and aggressive fighting spirit reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

HANSEN, DALE MERLIN

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 7 May 1945. Cool and courageous in combat, Pvt. Hansen unhesitatingly took the initiative during a critical stage of the action and, armed with a rocket launcher, crawled to an exposed position where he attacked and destroyed a strategically located hostile pillbox. With his weapon subsequently destroyed by enemy fire, he seized a rifle and continued his 1-man assault. Reaching the crest of a ridge, he leaped across, opened fire on 6 Japanese and killed 4 before his rifle jammed. Attacked by the remaining 2 Japanese, he beat them off with the butt of his rifle and then climbed back to cover. Promptly returning with another weapon and supply of grenades, he fearlessly advanced, destroyed a strong mortar position and annihilated 8 more of the enemy. In the forefront of battle throughout this bitterly waged engagement, Pvt. Hansen, by his indomitable determination, bold tactics and complete disregard of all personal danger, contributed essentially to the success of his company’s mission and to the ultimate capture of this fiercely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His great personal valor in the face of extreme peril reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.