KILLED IN ACTION -- Mrs. Frank Hanna, 811 Rich street, Clear Lake, received a message from the war department Tuesday morning stating that her husband, Pfc. Frank "Fred" Hanna, had been killed in action in Germany March 24. A letter is to follow. Pfc. Hanna went overseas last November and had been in combat much of the time since. He was with the 30th 'Old Hickory" division of the 9th army but recently had been attached to the first army. He was awarded the expert infantryman's combat badge. Besides his wife, he is survived by 2 children Jean, 8, and Roger, 5, his mother, Mrs. James Hanna, 304 N. Elm street, and several brothers and sisters.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, April 3, 1945 (photo included)
Body of Pfc. Frank Hanna to Arrive at Lake Friday
Clear Lake -- The body of Pfc. Frank "Fred" Hanna, who was killed in action in Germany March 24, 1945, will arrive in Clear Lake from Chicago under military escort Friday morning via the Milwaukee railroad, according to a message received from Maj. Thomas O. Call, QMC, with headquarters in Chicago. The body arrived from overseas several weeks ago.
Pfc. Hanna was born in Clear Lake Nov. 24, 1912, son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Hanna, and grew to manhood in this community. He was married to Miss Blanche Eichmeier Nov. 14, 1934 and to them were born 2 children, Jean, now 12, and Roger, 11. Before entering the service in April, 1944, he was employed as a mechanic at the Clear Lake bakery garage.
Overseas in 1944
Mr. Hanna had his first training at Camp Roberts, Cal., and in October, 1944, was transferred to Fort Meade, Md., and from there was went overseas in November, landing first in England. He was soon sent into the front lines and was at the massacre of Malmedy in December.
Jan. 20, 1945, he wrote that he had returned from Germany with his unit, the 30th "Old Hickory" division, of the 9th army, and that he had received an expert infantryman's combat badge,. After a period of a rest camp in Belgium he was attached to the first army fighting on the north side of "the bulge." He also had battle bars for participation in major engagements.
Survivors Named
Pfc. Hanna was preceded in death by his father who died Sept. 16, 1939, a sister, Mrs. Ruth Hanna O'Daniels, who died in May, 28, 1944,; a brother, James Irwin Hanna, who died June 4, 1941 and a step-brother, Merle Hanna, who died in 1942. His mother died Aug 26, 1946.
Besides his children and widow, now Mrs. Leonard F. Davis, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Orlando Tollars, nee Agnes Hanna, Waukee; 2 half-brothers, Carl and Harry Knutson, 304 N. Elm street, and 3 half sisters, Mrs. R.E. Nesbit, Garner; Mrs. Lillie VanHorn, Whittier, Cal., and Mrs. Laura Lacey, Marshalltown.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Ward's funeral home is in charge.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 26, 1949
Frank Arthur Hanna was born Nov. 24, 1911 to James Monroe and Charlotte “Lottie” Knutson Hanna. He died Mar. 24, 1945 and is buried in Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, IA.
Pvt. Hanna served in World War II with the 120th Infantry, 30th Division, U.S. Army. He was KIA in Germany.
Source: ancestry.com
