Thomas A. Hanson, 1SG (Ret)

Born in 1948 in northern Wisconsin, raised on a dairy farm. Moved to California in 1966 where I worked as a welder on various tunneling projects to include the BART system in San Francisco.

Joined the Army in 1967, basic training at Ft. Ord, CA, AIT at Ft. Gordon, GA (Camp Crockett), Jump School at Ft. Benning, GA, additional training at Ft. Bragg, NC. Deployed to Vietnam in October 1968 and served as an RTO/Rifleman with Delta Company, 3rd Bn, 503rd Infantry. Departed the RVN in October 1969 to Ft. Bragg and then to Ft. Devens, MA, then back to Vietnam for a second tour with MACV in 71-72.

Following that, assignments in Korea, Africa and various stateside stations to include duty as a Drill Sergeant and First Sergeant at Ft. Jackson, SC. Retired from the Army there in June 1989. Stayed in Columbia, SC where my wife Linda and I have owned and operated Cross Engraving from 1992 to present.

We enjoy traveling and have been to Great Britain, Alaska, Austrailia, the Panama Canal and many destinations in the US. We also enjoy boating on Lake Murray, gardening, decorating (she), and woodworking (me).

We hope someday to retire, but so far haven’t been able to find the time.