Hanna DE-449

Hanna

William T. Hanna was born 23 October 1920 in New York, N.Y. Private Hanna enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 14 January 1942 at New York. He was killed in action 9 October 1942 while attached to the 1st Marine Division Reinforced on Guadalcanal. His unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding gallantry and determination in successfully executing forced landing assaults against a number of strongly defended Japanese positions on various Japanese strongholds including Guadalcanal. For his undaunted courage Private Hanna was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart. "Fighting desperately in hand-to-hand combat against overwhelming hostile forces, Private Hanna refused to be dislodged from his position and after exacting a tremendous toll of the enemy, heroically died at his post"

(DE-449: dp. 1,350; 1. 306'; b. 36'8"; dr. 9'5"; s. 24 k.; cpl. 186, a. 2 5", 4 40mm., 10 20mm., 2 dct., 8 dcp. (h.h.);cl. John C. Butler)

Hanna (DE-449) was launched 4 July 1944 by the Federal Shipbuliding & Drydock Co., Newark, N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. William P. Hanna, mother, and commissioned 27 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. Means Johnston, Jr., in command.

After shakedown out of Bermuda and Guantanamo Bay, Hanna returned to New York 24 March 1946. Departing New York 9 April she escorted Akutan (AE-13) to Cristobal, Canal Zone, then sailed via San Diego arriving Pearl Harbor 4 May. After more intensive training and various escort missions in Hawaiian waters Hanna sailed 9 June for Eniwetok where she took up duty with Marshall-Gilberts Surface Patrol and Escort Group. His duty continued until 28 September after the Japanese surrender. Then she and the U.S. prize Tachibana Maru formed the task unit to evacuate Japanese soldiers and sailors from Wake Island. Embarking 700 passengers they reached Tokyo 12 October. The U.S. Navy crew was withdrawn; the United States ensign hauled down; and Tachibana Maru turned over to the Japanese.

Departing Tokyo 24 October 1945 Hanna returned to Eniwetok and then sailed to Guam, where she took up duty as air-sea rescue and weather reporting ship. She continued this important task until her return to the States, where she decommissioned at San Diego 81 May 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Hanna recommissioned at San Diego 27 December 1950, Lt. Comdr. C. W. Ward in command to augment Navy strength in the Korean conflict.

Once more an active unit of the Pacific Fleet, Hanna served with Escort Squadron 9 until 16 April 1951 when she sailed for the Western Pacific. Here she served as patrol ship in the Formosa Straits. In June 1951 Hanna Joined Task Force 95 for blockading and escort duties off the west coast of Korea. In August, while on shore bombardment mission in Wonsan Harbor Hanna was instrumental in silencing enemy shore batteries after a duel lasting more than 2 hours. During the ensuing months Hanna served gallantly, operating with the Blockading and Escort Forces of 'Task Force 95. She was part of the antisubmarine and antiaircraft screen for our aircraft carriers launching repeated strikes against the Communists. Early November 1951 Hanna was detached for the Unite+States, reaching San Diego 26 November for overhaul.

Three months later Hanna returned to the western pacific and resumed her shore bombardment missions in addition to escorting damaged vessels and investigation of fishing craft. She returned to San Diego 9 June 1-3. After operations off the California coast Hanna departed| 19 November for an island-hopping cruise of the Central Pacific, returning to San Diego 6 June 1954.

Between 9 November 1954 and 28 July 1957 Hanna made three more deployments to the western Pacific. On her last deployment Hanna took up patrolling the Central Carolines, Northern Marianas, the Bonins, and the Volcano Islands. In addition she participated in a rescue mission involving the Chinese Nationalist Merchantman SS Ping Tung that had ran aground on Yokote Shima, an island of the Ryukyu chain.

Hanna's home port was changed to Long Beach 26 November 1957 and she was designated a Naval Reserve Training Ship. She commenced the first of her reserve training cruises 6 February 1958 to Manzanillo, Mexico, and from that date until 27 August 1959 made 18 such cruises in addition to numerous weekend cruises. Hanna decommissioned at Mare Island 11 December 1959 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Hanna received five stars for Korean service.