Individual Details
Otto Henry "Bud" Hanssen
(23 Dec 1914 - 4 Feb 1944)
Missing - Technical Sergeant Otto Hanssen, 29, son of Art Hanssen, of Lovell township, is reported missing in action at Casino, Italy, since Feb. 4. A telegram was received by his father last Saturday advising him of the fact. It is not known whether Hanssen was killed or was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was in the first group of Jones county boys to leave for the service and had been with the army for nearly three years. He has seen overseas duty two years next June.
Otto Hanssen Killed in Action
Friend Writes of Hanssen's Death
Arthur E. Hanssen received a letter this week from Pfc. George Lehman, who was with his son at the time that he was killed in action. This is the first definite word that he has had concerning the death of his son, Otto, aside from the official government telegram. The letter follows:
Dec. 15, 1944
Dear Mr. Hanssen,
The government has asked me for certain information concerning the disappearance of your son. Well, Mr. Hanssen, I told them all I knew about the disappearance of your son. Your son Otto was a good friend of mine. I thought a lot of him for himself and as a soldier. He was a real hero. Where the fighting was the thickest, we'd always find Otto there. I'm very sorry that I have to tell your that I believe he was killed in action. This is my opinion of the matter. I was badly wounded on Feb. 4, 1944 with Otto, taken prisoner, and was repatriated in September. We came back on the Gripsholm. I heard no more of your son after I was captured. Us fellows when over there never thought of being killed. We tried to keep up our morale as much as possible . I slept in many cellars with Otto and other boys who fought side by side with him. He was a great guy and always in the thick of things. Well, Mr. Hanssen, I deeply regret to inform you of your son's misfortune. We all have to pay in some way of another. I lost a leg but I'm not bad off. I think of the boys who aren't coming back.
Sincerely yours,
Pfc. George Lehman
Memorial - Memorial services for Technical Sergeant Otto H. Hanssen will be held Sunday, April 8, at the Congregational church at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. Homer Dalrymple officiating. T/Sgt. Hanssen was reported missing in action in Italy Feb. 4, 1944, and was officially declared dead in February, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and it was sent to his father, Arthur Hanssen. Representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post will take part in the service.
Otto Hanssen Killed in Action
Friend Writes of Hanssen's Death
Arthur E. Hanssen received a letter this week from Pfc. George Lehman, who was with his son at the time that he was killed in action. This is the first definite word that he has had concerning the death of his son, Otto, aside from the official government telegram. The letter follows:
Dec. 15, 1944
Dear Mr. Hanssen,
The government has asked me for certain information concerning the disappearance of your son. Well, Mr. Hanssen, I told them all I knew about the disappearance of your son. Your son Otto was a good friend of mine. I thought a lot of him for himself and as a soldier. He was a real hero. Where the fighting was the thickest, we'd always find Otto there. I'm very sorry that I have to tell your that I believe he was killed in action. This is my opinion of the matter. I was badly wounded on Feb. 4, 1944 with Otto, taken prisoner, and was repatriated in September. We came back on the Gripsholm. I heard no more of your son after I was captured. Us fellows when over there never thought of being killed. We tried to keep up our morale as much as possible . I slept in many cellars with Otto and other boys who fought side by side with him. He was a great guy and always in the thick of things. Well, Mr. Hanssen, I deeply regret to inform you of your son's misfortune. We all have to pay in some way of another. I lost a leg but I'm not bad off. I think of the boys who aren't coming back.
Sincerely yours,
Pfc. George Lehman
Memorial - Memorial services for Technical Sergeant Otto H. Hanssen will be held Sunday, April 8, at the Congregational church at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. Homer Dalrymple officiating. T/Sgt. Hanssen was reported missing in action in Italy Feb. 4, 1944, and was officially declared dead in February, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and it was sent to his father, Arthur Hanssen. Representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post will take part in the service.
Events
| Birth | 23 Dec 1914 | Monticello, Jones, Iowa, United States | |||
| Death | 4 Feb 1944 | Cassino, Italy |  | ||
| Burial | 5 May 1945 | Oakwood Cemetery, Jones, Iowa, United States |  |
Families
| Father | Arthur Eugene Hanssen (1878 - 1956) |
| Mother | Blanche Margaret Eilers (1887 - 1942) |
| Sibling | Avelda Marie Hanssen (1911 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Margaret Mathilda Hanssen (1913 - 2005) |
| Sibling | Paul Arthur Hanssen (1916 - 2009) |
| Sibling | Muriel Frieda "Mert" Hanssen (1917 - 2001) |
| Sibling | Eileen Blanche Hanssen (1920 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Mary Josephine Hanssen (1922 - 2012) |
| Sibling | Dorothy Lucille Hanssen (1925 - 1997) |
| Sibling | George Lyle Hanssen (1927 - 2015) |
Notes
Burial
1101 Otto Henry Hanssen 12/23/1914 5/5/1945 WWII - In memory of - s/o Arthur & Blanche HanssenEndnotes
1. Hanssen, Otto. "Otto Hanssen Killed in Action," Monticello Express, Monticello, Iowa, 1944,.