Glen Lucious Hansen

Mantua, Utah has a honorable history of gallant military service. Glen Lucius Hansen is the only Mantua service member to be killed in action (the last full measure of devotion)

My sincere thank you to Lance Palmer for the majority of the following information about his great uncle.

Glen Lucius Hansen

Born: August 28,1908

Brigham City, Utah

Died: September 24, 1944

Killed in Action during WWII near

Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France

He enlisted on December 16, 1940 at the age of 32. Then entered the Brigham City National Guard in March 1941.

Transferred to an armored division shortly after December 7, 1941.

His rank was T/5 (Technician 5th Grade), Field Artillery.

Army rank T/5, or Technician Fifth Grade, was a specialized U.S. Army rank used during World War II (1942–1948). It designated enlisted soldiers who possessed specialized technical skills (like radio operators, mechanics, or medics) but held no command authority.

He was a member of the U.S. Army, 4th Armored Division.

The U.S. Army's 4th Armored Division, nicknamed "Breakthrough," was a legendary mechanized unit famous for serving as the spearhead of General George S. Patton's Third Army in World War II.

Activated in 1941, the division spearheaded rapid drives across France. They moved so fast that they were abruptly forced to halt for about five days just west of the Moselle River in France due to severe fuel shortages. They had out ran their supply line. After their ammunition ran out they fought hand to hand until resupplied.

Glen would have been fighting in the battle of Arracourt just east of Nancy at the time of his death. This is where the 4th Armored Division once again soundly defeated superior numbers of heavier German Panther tanks. It was an American victory, although we suffered well over 3,000 casualties (killed and wounded) during September 18-25 at that location.

Glen was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously on December 4, 1944.

He was originally buried in a U.S. cemetery 15 miles northwest from Nancy, France.

His body was returned from Europe to Mantua, Utah on November 17, 1948.

Shortly afterward he was interred at the Mantua Cemetery. A funeral service with military honors took place at the Mantua LDS Chapel on December 11, 1948.

Lance Palmer stated that Glen is the oldest brother of his grandmother Dora Mae Palmer. She was only 19 years old when he was killed. Shortly before his death, she wrote him a letter to share the news that she was engaged to be married.

Thank you Lance Palmer