In Memory of U.S. Marines Private First Class
Barry Andre Hansen was born December 29, 1945, in Bury
St. Edmunds, England, to Raymond and Lillian J. (Spearman)
Hansen. His siblings were Ray, twins: Darlene and Darrel,
Rita, and Jim. Barry attended Spearfish High School. He
graduated in 1964 from Spearfish High School. His interests
were reading and the marines. His family members remember
him as “A compassionate person [who] loved people, reading,
and was always interested in the Marines since he was boy of
9.”
Barry entered the service at Salt Lake City, Utah, on
September 11, 1964. He had basic training in San Diego,
California, and he was additionally trained for combat.
Private First Class Hansen was sent to Vietnam as a member
of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Platoon, in
the Vicinity of Nagi. He wrote home, “If anything should
happen to me, I would like it known I was with the best when
it happened.”
Private First Class Barry Andre Hansen was wounded in
Vicinity of Nagi, Vietnam, while participating in an
operation against hostile forces. He died aboard the US
Naval Hospital Ship on March 7, 1966. In a letter to Barry’s
parents, the captain of US Marine Corps explained what
happened to Barry:
On March 4, 1966, Barry, who had
served his country in this company for the last eight
months, accompanied his platoon into battle near the
village of Chau Nhai, Quang Ngai Province, Republic of
Vietnam. His assignment as an automatic rifleman in the
second platoon placed him among the forward elements of
the company. Once the battle was joined, a fierce
encounter on the right flank resulted in a number of
marine casualties, one of whom was your son. As he moved
aggressively against a entrenched enemy position, he was
cut down by a burst of fire that wounded him in the left
chest, left arm, and in the neck.
Medical attention was given Barry by
the unit corpsmen, and he was evacuated by helicopter as
expeditiously as possible. The USS Repose is as fine a
medical facility as can be found anywhere in the world,
but the extent of your son’s injuries precluded their
every attempt to save his life. It may comfort you to
know that prior to his death Barry received the last
rites of his faith from the U. S. Navy Chaplain aboard
the Repose. From the time of his initial wounding until
his death, Barry was medicated against pain, and you can
rest assured that he did not suffer.
Private First Class Hansen’s body was returned to the
United States and he was buried with military honors at
Evanston, Wyoming. Among the awards Barry Hansen received
were the Purple Heart for wounds in action, the Good Conduct
Medal, and the Sharp Shooter Badge.
Barry Hansen is currently survived by his mother,
Lillian, of Rock Springs, Wyoming; his siblings: Ray,
Spearfish; twins, Darlene, Rock Springs, Wyoming, and
Darrel, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Rita, Rock Springs,
Wyoming; and Jim, Spearfish. His father, Raymond passed away
on April 15, 1985.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Allison Syman
and Jade Miller, 8th grade, Spearfish Middle School,
Spearfish, South Dakota, on February 9, 2006. Information
for this entry was provided by Raymond Hansen, brother of
Barry Hansen, Spearfish, SD, and the Vietnam bonus
application. Profile approval by Ray Hansen.
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