Kenneth Hanna

The database page for Kenneth Hanna

30 Apr 2003 To honor a life, To honor a hero, To honor a man who fought for his life, May God keep you safe and give comfort to all, For you are not forgotten! God Bless!!!! Samantha Shaw Mobile, Al E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

3 Mar 2004 I, too, have worn SGM Kenneth Hanna's bracelet since purchasing it in 1989. I had hoped by now he'd have been returned home. God bless him and his family. ~ Stace Stacey Williams projections2000@netscape.net

3 Feb 2005 Kenneth Hanna and Charles Lindewald were recovered during the period of September 2003 to February 2004. CILHI offically ID'ed them on 08 September 2005. A memorial service for Kenneth Hanna was held 15 Jan 2005 at the First Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC. He was buried in Fayetteville. On Friday, 04 Feb 2005, a joint memorial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. From a friend of J. L. Moreland (MIA) E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

30 May 2005 I too have the bracelet of Kenneth Hanna. It came with the synopsis of the mission that eventually led to his disappearence. Every Memorial Day and Veterans' Day I take it out and read it as reminder of those who fought and paid the ultimate price for freedom. I am thankful that his family now has closure. Laura Croce E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

08 Sep 2006 Thank you for our freedom. As a mother I have come to appreciate all that our soldiers did and continue to do for us now. Each Veterans' Day I have always wondered what ever happened to the soldier that I had inscribed on my bracelet, Kenneth Hanna. It's fascinating to learn that after so many years of wearing this bracelet, and sharing its meaning with others that he is now home with us again. It has been a long time and I am so thankful that the soldier's family can now have closure, and this great memorial was established to salute all who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Again thank you and God bless. Rocel Dimmick dimmicknuts@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall Then-Sergeant First Class Kenneth Hanna was one of the five Americans who were Missing in Action after the fall of the Special Forces camp at Lang Vei during the 1968 Tet offensive. The others lost were Captured, released 1973: SFC Harvey G. Brande SSgt Dennis L. Thompson SP5 William G. McMurray Missing in Action: SFC Kenneth Hanna SFC James W. Holt SFC Charles W. Lindewald Sgt Daniel R. Phillips SP4 James L. Moreland The remains of SFC Hanna and SFC Lindewald were repatriated 15 Jan 2004 and identified 08 Sept 2004. Killed in Action: SFC Eugene Ashley Jr. (MoH) Soldier who died in Vietnam remembered at funeral FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Kenneth Hanna's family spent decades waiting to welcome him home and say goodbye. The 34-year-old Army sergeant major vanished in Vietnam in 1968 and was listed as missing in action. Ten years later, that status was changed to killed in action. But it was only in November 2003 that officials recovered the remains of Hanna and another soldier, Charles Lindewald. Hanna's remains were positively identified last fall through dental records and anthropological analysis. His remains were flown to North Carolina on Jan. 7, and he was laid to rest Saturday after a funeral at a church filled with family, friends, soldiers and veterans. "It meant closure for the family," his wife, Mary Hanna, said afterward. Hanna was one of five Green Berets listed as missing in action on Feb. 7, 1968, after North Vietnamese tanks overran a Special Forces camp during the Battle of Lang Vei. He was weapons sergeant for Charlie Company, Detachment A-101 of the 5th Special Forces Group. Mary and Kenneth Hanna were married for 13 years when he died. They had two daughters and a son. "He was a wonderful soldier, a wonderful husband and a wonderful father," Brig. Gen. Mike Jones, commander of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, said at the funeral. "This was a man of resolute purpose," Jones said. "A professional who believed in what he did. A Special Forces soldier who decided to be the best he could be." At the funeral, more than 100 veterans and soldiers filled the right section of the main sanctuary. Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) served as pallbearers. The balcony held about 75 members of Rolling Thunder, a veterans group that supports POW/MIA issues. Most rode motorcycles and led the funeral procession from the church to the cemetery near Spring Lake. A light gray casket at the front of the church was covered with red, white and blue flowers. Four other arrangements of red, white and blue flowers flanked the casket. A framed collage of pictures of Hanna rested on an easel nearby. At Sandhills Veterans Cemetery, seven soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group fired M-16 rifles in unison three times for a 21-gun salute. Pallbearers folded the flag that draped the coffin, and Gen. Jones presented it to Mary Hanna. Alvin Jenkins was about 6 when Hanna, his uncle, was listed as missing in action. "I remember him being a strong man," he said. "One of the things I learned from him that is most important is to hold to principles." Photos: (a) Fort Bragg unit photo from the mid-1960s (b) Daughter Kenetha Garcia and wife Mary Hanna (c) Funeral, First Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC. © The Herald-Sun Durham, North Carolina 16 Jan 2005 Reproduced under 17 USC §107

The point-of-contact for this memorial is one who wears his MIA bracelet, Samantha Shaw Mobile, Al E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 30 Apr 2003
Last updated 09/27/2006