RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Wilbur, Washington
FULL NAME:
Halland W. Hankel
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
0-450236
- DATE OF BIRTH: September 17, 1914
- DATE OF DEATH: June 9, 1987
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
-
DATE OF ENLISTMENT:November 7, 1941
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:38th Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Company M, 3rd Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Captain (Cpt.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Company Commander
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Bronze Star Medal, 🎖Purple Heart
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
Captain Halland W. Hankel was one of the first U.S. Army Ranger Instructors and also an extraordinary Company Commander. His exemplary leadership, along with the heroic defense of his men from Heavy Weapons Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, contributed in December 1944 to the successful defense of Krinkelt-Rocherath and the cessation of the German offensive in the northern sector of the front.
