Harold Johnson |
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Harold C. Johnson, Sr.
I am a decorated Vietnam Vet that acquired his decorations from action
aboard the USS Hanson DD832.
This ship in the company of others participated in a daring raid on
Haiphong harbor and amphibious assaults both of which
were of the magnitude only seen in WWII and never since. I among others
were decorated for these actions. Unfortunately others lost their
lives.
A bit of Naval history I would say. One that, no one has made much of.
It's a bit saddening.
Below is the command history of USS HANSON (DD-832) as extracted from
the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships." Regrettably, it only
goes to 1967.
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USS Hanson
Robert Murray Hanson was born 4 February 1920 at Lucknow, India, the
son of Methodist missionaries stationed in India. Joining the Marine
Corps shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Hanson trained as a
fighter pilot and became part of the 25th Marine Fighting Squadron. He
was credited with splashing 26 Japanese planes, 20 of them in 6
consecutive flying days. His country recognized the quintuple ace's
skill and daring by awarding him the Medal of Honor as well as the Air
Medal and the Navy Cross. The Medal of Honor Citation reads in part:
"Undeterred by fierce Opposition, and fearless in the face of
overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with
daring aggressiveness". Lt. Hanson was lost in action when his plane
crashed into the sea over Rabaul, New Britain, 3 February 1944
(DD-832: dp. 2,425; 1. 390'6", b. 41'1"; cr.; 18'6"; s. 35 k., cpl. 367,
6 a. 6 5", 12 40 mm., 8 20 mm., 5 21" tt.;dcp., 2 dct. cl. Gearing )
Hanson (DD-832) was launched 11 March 1945 by the Bath Iron Works
Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. Harry A. Hanson, mother of Lt.
Hanson, and commissioned 11 May 1945, Comdr. John C. Parham in command.
After shakedown in the Caribbean and conversion to a picket destroyer
at Boston Navy Yard, Hanson sailed for the Pacific 7 November 1945. She
spent most of the following year operating in support of occupation
forces in Japan, with a September period of fleet maneuvers off the
China coast. Reporting to the Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk 6 February 1947,
Hanson trained along the East Coast until sailing in late January 1948
for her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She
was designated DDR-832 (radar picket destroyer) 8 March 1949. During her
second deployment to the Mediterranean in the summer of 1949 Hanson took
part in two of the most important steps toward peace taken in that
tension-wracked region. As station ship to the United Nations General
Assembly at the Isle of Rhodes, she was the only American warship
present as Greece received control of the long-contested Dodecanese
Islands. On her next important duty Hanson carried United Nations
mediator Dr. Ralph Bunche, later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, to
Beirut, Lebanon, for peace negotiations on Israel.
World crisis shifted from Europe and the Mediterranean to the East in
1950, and Hanson joined the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor 12 July to
prepare for her role against Communist aggression in Korea. Her first
duty off the wartorn country saw Hanson participating in the brilliant
amphibious operations at Inchon 15 September 1950 as well as providing
fire cover for the successful evacuation of Hungnam and Wonsan just
before Christmas that year. Hanson's second combat cruise to Korea,
September 1951 to May 1952, took her along the east coast as a member of
the fleet bombarding strategic shore targets in support of ground troops
where her accurate fire was most effective. In December she also
participated in the important Formosa Patrol and visited Hong Kong.
After a respite at San Diego, Hanson returned to the Korean bomb-line in
December 1952 for task force operations, screening the fast carriers as
they launched their jets against enemy supply lines and positions. The
battle-hardened destroyer also participated in shore bombardment,
search-and rescue operations, and Formosa patrol before returning to the
United States 20 July 1953, shortly before the end of open conflict in
Korea.
Subsequent years found Hanson making annual 6-month deployments with
the 7th Fleet to strengthen American defenses in the Pacific and to
prove American determination to keep the peace to possible aggressors.
In addition to patrol, major portions of Hanson's pacific cruises were
devoted to tactical maneuvers and battle exercises with United States
and allied ships as well as intensive antisubmarine hunter-killer
training. Hong Kong, Formosa, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and even
Australia provided familiar ports of call for the destroyer on these
cruises. Hanson was patrolling the Straits of Formosa virtually within
sight of the Communist mainland in the fall of 1958 as shelling of the
off shore islands of Quemoy and Matsu precipitated the latest major
international crisis which this "small boy" again helped to quell. In
the spring of 1942 and again in 1943 Hanson took part in the annual
Australian celebration of the Battle of the Coral Sea, World War II's
first carrier naval engagement in the Pacific.
When not deployed to the western Pacific Hanson trained out of her home
port, San Diego, in a program designed to keep ship and crew at their
peak readiness. Much of this training was centered on Hanson' role as a
radar picket destroyer, designed to provide early warning of approaching
enemy air, surface, or submarine forces. In
the spring of 1964 she was redesignated DD-832 and entered the shipyard
at Mare Island to undergo a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization
Conversion designed to prolong her active life as a fighting ship for
many years.
Conversian completed 6 December 1964, Hanson rejoined the Pacific Fleet
early in 1965 as a unit of DesRon 11. She operated along the West Coast
until heading for the Far East early in the summer to join the fight
against Communist aggression in Southeast Asia. In July she shelled
enemy targets ashore and, but for brief respites, she patrolled and
fought in troubled Vietnamese waters until late in the autumn.
Returning to San Diego in December, she operated along the coast of
California and Mexico until getting under way for the Orient 17 July
1966. She steamed via Hawaii, Midway, Guam, and Subic Bay for Vietnam
and anchored in the Saigon River 13 September. But for short visits to
Hong Kong, Formosa, and the Philippines Hanson operated in the flghting
zone until relieved 6 January 1967. During the deployment, her 5-inch
guns fired over 9,000 rounds at Communist targets, mostly in direct
support of ground forces. She also did plane guard duty, patrolled close
ashore to stop infiltration of supplies and men from the north, and
refueled helicopters.
Back at San Diego 11 February 1967, Hanson operated along the West Coast
preparing for her next WestPac deployment.
Hanson received eight battle stars for Korean service.
Return-Path:
Harold C. Johnson. Sr.
Served 1970 through 1972
Gunnermate Third Class.
Known as JOHN by crewmembers.
Still in constant contact with: Bill Elliott, GMG3, who is in
contact with Bill Kerr the COOK
and one other guy I can't remember his name.
Good Day Mate,
Anyway, let me continue. I sent my first message before I had a chance
to read yours. You did a fantastic job of gathering information
relating to the Hanson. I remember it all as if were yesterday.
I have some log information that I will forward to you as soon as I
re-type it.
Looking forward to a reply.
Do you remember any of the guys or myself? Your name is familiar.
GOD BLESS,
JOHN
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