S1C George Charles Edward Hanne (WWII)

April 06, 2024

Seaman 1st Class George Charles Edward Hanne was born November 4, 1925 in Barrackville, WV to John and Rosanna (Pethal) Hanne. George was the middle child of five siblings, three boys, two girls.

John, a Pennsylvania native and WWI veteran, was a mail carrier in Marion County at least through 1930-1950 (census data after 1950 has not yet been released).

On November 4, 1943, 18 year old George Hanne registered for the draft. At that time he was 6' and 147 lbs with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a scar across his right eyebrow. He listed himself as a student both on his draft card and during his induction into the US Navy.

Military Service:

George was inducted into the United States Navy on January 22, 1944 in Clarksburg, WV. He was sent to the Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois, for training.

For the month ending on April 21, 1944, George was on board the Tank Landing Ship LST-130, as it cruised from San Francisco, but by the end of the next month (ending May 28, 1944) he had been transferred to the U.S.S. Newcomb. The rationale given was "From Flag Allowance, Comdespac for duty."

On April 6, 1945, George was still on board the destroyer U.S.S. Newcomb when it was attacked by Japanese Kamikaze planes. It was off the coast of the island of Ie Shima, supporting the work of minesweepers, when forty to fifty Japanese planes approached. About an hour and a half after the first attack, four kamikaze planes hit the Newcomb, despite the best efforts of gunners on board. A fifth kamikaze plane was shot down, though it hit the destroyer Leutze's stern in the process. The destroyers Leutze and Beale came alongside the Newcomb to assist in putting the flames out, while other nearby ships helped fish survivors out of the water. (US Naval Institute)

By the time the long day had ended, fourty-three men were killed, and sixty-four were wounded. The Newcomb received a Navy Unit Commendation, in part due to the attack.

Unfortunately, George died during this attack and his remains were never recovered. He had served on the U.S.S. Newcomb for almost one year, for the duration of the time mentioned in the commendation. Scroll to the bottom for the full commendation.

Honors and Remembrance:

Seaman First Class George C.E. Hanne received the Purple Heart posthumously and is honored at Honolulu Memorial's Courts of the Missing and the Okinawa Memorial Park Peace Memorial. The Peace Memorial honors "all Japanese, American, British, Korean and Taiwanese soldiers who died as well as the names of all Okinawans, civilian and military, who died throughout the Pacific War" (Center for the Study of Pacific War Memories).

A gravestone for George can also be found next to his parents at the Monumental Cemetery outside of Barrackville.

U.S.S. Newcomb Commendation

“For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Saipan-Tinian operations, May 29 to August 5, 1944; Palau, September 6 to October 1, 1944; the Battle of Surigao Strait, October 24–25, 1944; Iwo Jima, February 10 to March 10, 1945; and Okinawa, March 21 to April 7, 1945. Operating in the face of continued and persistent air attacks throughout five major campaigns, the U.S.S. NEWCOMB blasted Japanese shore emplacements, screened our attacking transports and effectively laid support barrages for amphibious assaults. As the Leader of Destroyer Squadron FIFTY SIX in the historic Battle of Surigao Strait, she spearheaded a three-section night torpedo attack, boldly closing the battleship YAMASHIRO‘s terrific broadsides to aid in sinking the powerful man-o’-war with accurate torpedo salvos. In retiring, she went alongside the stricken A. W. GRANT to evacuate casualties and take the disabled ship in tow. At Iwo Jima, the NEWCOMB covered our minesweepers in the pre-attack sweep of the landing beaches and scored a probable kill on her second submarine. Culminating her brilliant combat service in a furious engagement with seven enemy suicide planes determined to destroy her, the NEWCOMB, staggering from the first suicide crash and slowed by loss of steam, shot down a second plane and was immediately smashed amidships by a third. With top-hamper and machinery spaces blown into a tangled mass of rubble, with smoke and flames billowing 1000 feet above her and the bridge the only structure intact above the water line, she fought on relentlessly with her remaining guns in manual control to blast three more attackers into the sea an damage the last Kamikaze. Superbly handled by valiant officers and men, the NEWCOMB has added new luster to the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

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