Page 52 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

One night, the Nazis opened fire. The two troop leaders from Abilene Christian College and was awarded a Purple
were shot, putting him in charge of his platoon. He Heart.
attempted to crawl across the base to check on his men, and
he accidently raised his left hip too high and was shot by a After the war, “Boss” married Billie Jo West. They had four
machine gun. children and were married for 35 years when he died at the
age of 61.
He was taken to 303 Station Hospital in England. He
recovered and was reassigned as an MP (military police) I never got to meet my great-grandfather, but I would have
in England. When the war ended, he returned to graduate loved to have known him. I am thankful to be a part of his
family.

Delbert Hanson A Family Dedicated to Service and Honor
Vietnam War ~ Army
by Colter Hanson Swim

y love for our country International Falls, Minnesota after three years of active
Mis very deep because duty and continued to serve in the Army Reserves for
of the many people in my 17 years. He married Linda Gauthier Hanson. They had
family who have served it. I two children. After occupations including electrician and
am grateful to those who have EMT, my grandfather served with the National Nuclear
fought for our freedom. My Security Administration (NNSA) as a deputy commander,
grandfather is one of them. escorting nuclear weapons throughout the United States
Delbert “Del” Hanson was and transporting nuclear generators for NNSA until
born on October 22, 1948 retirement. Following retirement, he worked as a firearms
in Warroad, Minnesota. He instructor.
enlisted in the army on June
20, 1966 at the age of 17. My grandfather was inspired to go
into the military by his father, Alfred
He was stationed Hanson, who had served during WWII
in Okinawa, Japan in the Pacific. Delbert’s brother Dale
as a Field Radio was stationed in Vietnam in the Special
Mechanic. He was Forces and received several Purple
in the Signal Corps Hearts. My uncle Scott Hanson served
and was involved as a combat engineer and supply
in Psychological specialist.
Operations. He
also attended Jump My grandfather instilled in me an
School in Okinawa. enduring love for this country. He reminds me how
Subsequently, he important it is that we defend our freedom and honor our
was stationed in Vietnam where he was assigned to the country. He taught me that “Honor is what you do when
173rd Airborne Brigade. He safely returned home to no one is looking.”

Joseph Spaeth
WWII ~ Army Purple Heart Hero
by Jordan Hill | Grade 7

Frank Joseph Spaeth was born California, then to Salisbury, England. After nine months,
in 1915 on a farm near Lindsay, Joe was sent to the front.
Texas. The Spaeth family was
originally from Hobranz, Austria Once, while transporting goods at night, one of their
and moved to Texas when Joe’s trucks broke down. Joe was able to fix it, but the rest of
father was ten years old. Joe was the trucks continued on. While Joe’s truck was en route,
drafted by the U.S. Army and left they ran across a troop of Germans. Joe and the truck
home on June 18, 1941 to fight driver were ambushed, and Joe was shot in the right knee.
in World War II. He was put on Luckily, there was a machine gun in the truck, so the
a train in Gainesville, Texas and truck driver was able to take care of the German troops.
sent to Oklahoma. He traveled to A German tank saw them, and Joe knew he was in big

52 Lubbock Senior Link