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Charles Benjamin Hanson was born on 29 November 1930 in
Monticello, Wright County, MN, and entered the United States Military Academy
from Minnesota in 1949. Charlie, as he was known by classmates and friends,
received his appointment from Representative Andersen of the 7th Congressional
District. Charlie was proud of his Norwegian heritage and his family. Classmates
joked with Charlie about his intense pride in his Norwegian heritage by calling
him “The Norwegian.”
Charlie’s father, Magnor Andrew Hanson, was born in Tromso,
Norway, in 1892. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1912 and was naturalized in 1917 in
North Dakota. Magnor was drafted into the Army in 1917 and served as an
infantryman in Europe for about one year before World War I ended. After
returning to North Dakota, he married Esther Belle Klein. During the early years
of their marriage, Magnor worked as a farmer and Esther as a school teacher.
Later, the Hanson family moved to Morris, MN, where they lived when Charlie
received his appointment to USMA. The Hansons operated the Morris Oil Company,
consisting of a gas station, garage, grocery store, and rental apartments.
Charlie’s mother died in 1944 at the age of 46. Charlie’s father died in 1961 at
the age of 70. Charlie had three older siblings, one brother, and two sisters.
The oldest sibling was Mavis Hanson Groth, who was born in 1920 and died in
2004. After attending the University of Minnesota, she spent several years in
Washington, DC, working for the War Department during World War II. Marvin
Andrew Hanson was born in 1921, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and
died in 1969. The youngest sibling was Betty Hanson Erenberg, who was born in
1922 and died in 2002.
As a cadet,
Charlie often reminisced about his sister Betty, of whom he was very proud.
Betty became interested in flying when she was 14 years old. She received her
private pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program of the
University of Minnesota. Betty served in the Civil Air Patrol before joining the
Women’s Air Force Service Pilot program as part of the World War II
mobilization. After serving as a WASP, ferrying replacement aircraft from the
USA to England, Betty was assigned as an Engineering Test Pilot. After the WASP
members were deactivated in 1944, Betty returned to Minnesota, where she married
Richard Erenberg.
Charlie started
his education in Morris, where he attended Longfellow School for six years. He
then attended Shattuck School, a private Episcopal military prep school in
Faribault, MN, for six years. After Charlie graduated from the Shattuck School,
he enrolled at Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, where he spent one year before
receiving his appointment to USMA.
After spending his
plebe year as a member of the Class of 1953, Charlie was turned back to the
Class of 1954. He was assigned to Company K-1. During his upperclass years,
Charlie’s academic performance rose to the extent that he was requested to coach
others during his Second Class year. Charlie was a good athlete, competing with
the USMA track team in the pole vault for four years. He was among the top
performers of his class in the Cadet Physical Aptitude tests.
Upon graduation,
Charlie was commissioned in the Infantry. His first duty, during 1954–55, was at
Ft. Benning, where he was with many West Point classmates. He attended the
Infantry Officers Basic Course, Ranger School, and Airborne training.
After completing
this training, Charlie was assigned to the 65th Infantry at Camp Losey, Puerto
Rico, where he served as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and
battalion communications officer. About one year later, Charlie was transferred
to the 33rd Infantry Regiment in Panama. After serving briefly as a platoon
leader, Charlie became a company commander. He subsequently was an instructor at
the Jungle Warfare Training Center. During his time as a company grade officer,
Charlie served numerous times as a prosecutor in courts martial cases, one of
his least liked duties. Charlie returned to Ft. Hamilton, where, as a first
lieutenant, he was separated from active duty in June 1957. He then served in
the Reserves from June 1957 to August 1962.
As a civilian,
Charlie worked in California for the Douglas Aircraft Company, which later
merged with the McDonald Aircraft Company. Charlie worked as an Aviation
Engineer on the Skybolt Program, a development program for launching ballistic
missiles from B-52 aircraft. In December 1962, the Skybolt Program was
terminated because other programs seemed more cost effective and operationally
promising.
Upon termination
of the Skybolt Program, Charlie returned to Minnesota, where he worked until his
death in Minneapolis on 1 May 1976. Charlie died of cardiomyopathy. His mother
and brother had also died from heart disease at early ages. Charlie was buried
at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.
Charlie is
remembered by his classmates as a quiet person who exhibited a cheerful
personality and was always ready to help others. Regrettably, Charlie’s death at
an early age left a void and deprived family, classmates and other friends of
his valued friendship. Rest in peace, good friend.
—Company K-1 classmates
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