Missing In Service

Word came to Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Hansen from Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hansen that their second son, Gail, was missing in the navy, when the mine sweeper Minizet, on which he was a sailor, struck a mine off the coast of Japan on December 29. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have two other sons, Edward and Earl, who are in the navy. The Hansens live at Argyle, Minn., but are spending the winter with Mrs. Hansen’s father Ed Koepke in California. They are former Arlington residents.

Arlington Review Herald 7 Feb 1946

Gail Hanson Declared Dead

Following is the final report of the Government to Mr. and Mrs. Barney Hanson, parents of Seaman Gail Hanson, of the Mine Sweeper Minivet, which sank off the coast of Japan:

“After a careful review of all available facts leads to the conclusion that there is no hope of Gail’s survival. He lost his life as the result of an enemy mine explosion on Dec. 29, 1945, while in the service of his country.” Gail is the second son of the Hansons, there being two more sons, both in the Navy. Edward the eldest son is expected home soon. The youngest son, Earl, is also in the Navy in the Pacific.

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are former residents of Arlington, and are now living at Argyle, Minn. They have been spending the winter at Vista, Calif., with Mrs. Hanson’s father, Ed Koepke.

The Navy Log – Ship’s Tribune

MOMM 3c Gail A. Hanson

Date Lost December 29, 1945

Mine Explosion in Tsushima Straits USS Minivet (AM-371)

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~