USS Hanson (DD-832)

USS Hanson (DD/DDR-832) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for First Lieutenant Robert M. Hanson (1920–1944), a United States Marine Corps quintuple ace who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Hanson was launched on 11 March 1945 by the Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. Harry A. Hanson, mother of Lt. Hanson; and commissioned on 11 May 1945, Commander John C. Parham in command.

1945 – 1949
After shakedown in the Caribbean and conversion to a picket destroyer at Boston Navy Yard, Hanson sailed for the Pacific on 7 November 1945. She spent most of the following year operating in support of occupation forces in Japan, with a September period of fleet maneuvers off the China coast. Reporting to the Atlantic Fleet at the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on 6 February 1947, Hanson trained along the East Coast until sailing in late January 1948 for her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She was designated DDR-832 (radar picket destroyer) on 8 March 1949. During her second deployment to the Mediterranean in the summer of 1949 Hanson took part in two of the most important steps toward peace taken in that tension-wracked region. As station ship to the United Nations General Assembly at the Isle of Rhodes, she was the only American warship present as Greece received control of the long-contested Dodecanese Islands. On her next important duty Hanson carried United Nations mediator Dr. Ralph Bunche, later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, to Beirut, Lebanon, for peace negotiations on Israel.

Korea, 1950 – 1953
World crisis shifted from Europe and the Mediterranean to the East in 1950, and Hanson joined the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on 12 July to prepare for her role in the Korean War. Her first duty off the war-torn country saw Hanson participating in the amphibious operations at Inchon on 15 September 1950 as well as providing fire cover for the successful evacuation of Hŭngnam and Wonsan just before Christmas that year. Hanson's second combat cruise to Korea, September 1951 to May 1952, took her along the east coast as a member of the fleet bombarding strategic shore targets in support of ground troops where her accurate fire was most effective. In December she also participated in the important Formosa Patrol and visited Hong Kong. After a respite at San Diego, Hanson returned to the Korean bombline in December 1952 for task force operations, screening the fast carriers as they launched their jets against enemy supply lines and positions. The battle-hardened destroyer also participated in shore bombardment, search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, and Formosa patrol before returning to the United States on 20 July 1953, shortly before the end of the war in Korea.

1954 – 1964
Subsequent years found Hanson making annual six-month deployments with the 7th Fleet to strengthen American defenses in the Pacific and to prove American determination to keep the peace to possible aggressors. In addition to patrol, major portions of Hanson's Pacific cruises were devoted to tactical maneuvers and battle exercises with United States and allied ships as well as intensive antisubmarine hunter-killer training. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and even Australia provided familiar ports of call for the destroyer on these cruises. Hanson was patrolling the Straits of Formosa virtually within sight of Communist mainland China in the fall of 1958 as shelling of the offshore islands of Quemoy and Matsu precipitated a major international crisis. In the spring of 1962 and again in 1963 Hanson took part in the annual Australian celebration of the Battle of the Coral Sea, World War II's first carrier naval engagement in the Pacific.

When not deployed to the western Pacific, Hanson trained out of her home port, San Diego. Much of this training was centered on Hanson's role as a radar picket destroyer, designed to provide early warning of approaching enemy air, surface, or submarine forces. On 1 April 1964 she was redesignated DD-832 and entered the San Francisco Naval Shipyard to undergo a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) conversion designed to prolong her effective life as a fighting ship for many years.

Vietnam, 1965 – 1968
Conversion completed on 6 December 1964, Hanson rejoined the Pacific Fleet early in 1965 as a unit of Destroyer Squadron 11 (DesRon 11), with sister ship USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD-808), which was also a recent converted from DDR configuration. She operated along the West Coast until heading for the Far East early in the summer to join the fight against Communist aggression in Southeast Asia. In July she shelled enemy targets ashore and, but for brief respites, she patrolled and fought in troubled Vietnamese waters until late in the autumn.

Returning to San Diego in December, she operated along the coast of California and Mexico until getting under way for the Orient on 17 July 1966. She steamed via Hawaii, Midway, Guam, and Subic Bay for Vietnam and anchored in the Saigon River on 13 September. But for short visits to Hong Kong, Formosa, and the Philippines, Hanson operated in the fighting zone until relieved on 6 January 1967. During the deployment, her 5-inch guns fired over 9,000 rounds at Communist targets, mostly in direct support of ground forces. She also performed plane guard duty, patrolled close ashore to stop infiltration of supplies and men from the north, and refueled helicopters.

Back at San Diego on 11 February 1967, Hanson operated along the West Coast preparing for her next WestPac deployment. During the period, six months were spent in Long Beach Naval Shipyard undergoing repairs and overhaul.

Hanson's third deployment to Vietnam covered March through September, 1968. Notably, deployment was moved up in order to steam quickly to the Sea of Japan, where North Korean naval forces had recently (23 January 1968) intercepted and captured USS Pueblo (AGER-2) in international waters off the coast of North Korea. Hanson's appearance in the area did not elicit any material response from the Communists, and after several days, the ship sailed south to join the rest of the United States 7th Fleet off Vietnam in the South China Sea. Hanson returned to San Diego in the following September.

1969 – 1971
By October, 1970, USS Hanson returns to her home port San Diego, CA after a yard period at Hunter's Point San Franscisco, CA where the Hanson was in the same drydock (drydock #3) as the USS Dubuque LPD-8. The ship prepares for a 6 month WesPac tour scheduled for early 1971 by participating in Refresher Training (RefTra) and readiness inspections. Gunnery personnel conducted shore bombardment on San Clemente Island, and air and surface firings at towed targets. Deck division conducted several underway replenishments with USN Oiler. The Anti- Submarine team fired exercise ASROC and torpedoes at the USS Salmon SS 573. Operations conducted numerous exercises with USS Buckley DD 808 and USS GRAY DE 1054.

USS Hanson DD 832, USS Buckley DD 808 and USS Floyd B. Parks DD 884 depart San Diego, CA for a 6 month WesPac (Western Pacific) cruise on February 5, 1971. Ports of call included Pearl Harbor, HI, Midway Island, Apra Harbor in Guam, Subic Bay,Philippines, Da Nang, South Vietnam, Bangkok, Thailand, Buckner Bay, Okinawa, Japan, Sasebo, Japan, Pusan, South Korea, Yokusuka, Japan, Shimoda, Japan and British Colony of Hong Kong.

Most notable events of Hanson WesPac cruise: The three ships in transit between San Diego and Pearl Harbor encounter a large floating buoy or pipe sealed on its ends floating upright picked up on all three ship's radars seemingly the sail of a surfaced submarine about 3 days out from San Diego, CA. Hanson. Transiting from Sasebo to Pusan, the Hanson meets with the USS Truxtun CGN-35 and lowers it's motor whale boat to transfer a Commodore and his staff from the Truxtun to the Hanson prior to entering Pusan, South Korea. The Commodore was piped aboard, sideboys were stationed on the quarter deck.

Collision with a Soviet Union tug boat in the Sea of Japan mid or late April, 1971. Hanson was following a group of Russian tugs (at least 4) towing floating drydocks, some of the drydocks within other drydocks. The tugs were headed north to a Russian port when one of the tugs said to be the Diomid, fell back and came along the starboard side the Hanson. Officers on the Hanson's bridge attempted to talk to the tug via a bullhorn, but the captain of the tug didn't seem interested and within 20 minutes the tug veered toward the Hanson and struck at about her anchor. The Hanson sustained only a buffed paint job and perhaps a dent about the starboard anchor. The Russian tug lost at least 30 feet of its portside main deck railing or life line. The Hanson immediately went to general quarters and all camera film taken of the incident was confiscated by ships command as evidence of the international incident. The Hanson then made way for Yokusuka, Japan for repairs and cooling of Soviet/US Navy tensions. She remained in Yokusuka for at least 2 weeks.

At a later date after the tug collision, USS Hanson DD 832, USS Preble DLG-15 and a Japanese destroyer participated in the Black Ship Festival held about third week in May yearly in Shimoda, Japan. Each ship participated by entering marching units that marched through the narrow streets of Shimoda, Japan in that city's parade.

Hanson also conducted NGFS (Naval Gun Fire Support) off Vietnam for at least 2 weeks, followed and reported on the doings of USSR Navy ships in the Sea of Japan and participated in plane guard duty at Yankee station in the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam.

On the sixteenth of July the USS Hanson DD 832 in company with the USS Buckley DD 808 departed Subic Bay, her tour of duty completed, destination San Diego, California. In Guam, USS Buckley and USS Hanson were joined by the USS Floyd B. Parks DD 884. Due to bad weather and schedule commitments, Midway was by-passed in favor of a great circle track to Pearl Harbor, HI. The long journey was highlighted by an underway replenishment on the International Date Line with a fleet oiler on its way to WestPac. Hanson returned to San Diego,CA by 4 August 1971 after a full 6 month deployment.

The next month was spent in a "stand down" status with the crew working half days while most took some leave. The only major work was a change in her EW (Electronic Warfare) configuration. The SAMID (Ship's Anti-missile Integrated Defense) package was removed from the ASROC deck. In November, USS Hanson followed USS Hancock CVA 19 just outside of San Francisco,CA, for plane guard duties lasting about 1 week just before Thanksgiving Day of November 1971. During that time, one jet plane from the USS Hancock crashed into the rear of the USS Hancock and the jet plane fell into the sea. This happened while the crew of the Hanson was having breakfast. The Hanson immediately went to General Quarters to respond to Sea Rescue of the downed pilot. The pilot did not eject and was not recovered, only the rudder (tail section) and part of his life vest were floating on the sea surface. The plane submerged into multiple fathoms of water detectable by the ships SONAR equipment. USS Hanson stayed at the location of the submerged plane for greater than one hour in the event of more wreckage or articles would float to the surface. After her plane guard duty with the USS Hancock of about 1 week, USS Hanson returned to San Diego, CA. just before the Thanksgiving weekend.

Vietnam, 1972
Under the command of its captain, Commander Ian M. Watson, Hanson got underway, USS John S. McCain DDG-36 and USS Dennis J. Buckley 808 accompanied the Hanson enroute, 10 April 1972 with only 3 days notice to fight the Tet offensive in Vietnam as its 7th and final tour of Vietnam service. This would also be Hanson’s final tour of duty as a U.S. Naval vessel; and it would be its most fierce wartime effort.





Arriving on station in South Vietnam 30 April 1972 with her guns blazing, Hanson received orders from CincPacFlt and proceeded to North Vietnam on 4 May 1972 for frontline combat action in Operation Freedom Train (later called "Operation Linebacker") and engaged in a series of daring raids on the Haiphong complex, which included support for Operation Pocket Money on 9 May 1972.



During Hanson’s first night of raids on Haiphong, she approached the beach at 25 to 27 knots and turned along the coast firing on enemy positions. While on her approach, Captain Watson went to the starboard wing of the bridge to use the alidade to get a bearing on Hanson’s current position. The NV guns opened up (probably 155mm with anti air rounds) and provided air burst with shrapnel, which would frequently hit the ship and puncture the upper structure. One air bursts was close to the starboard side abeam (slightly above the wing of the bridge) and knocked Captain Watson to the deck. Standing on the starboard side near the navigator's table was Tactical Communicator/JOOD, LTJG Marty Sullivan, who quickly opened the hatch and went out to check on the Captain, then assisted him to his feet. Luckily, Captain Watson had not been hit by any shrapnel and was okay. On another attack mission that same night, Hanson opened fire with star flares to illuminate targets in Haiphong, but the flares went off prematurely and only illuminated Hanson, which forced her to quickly take evasive action to avoid being annihilated by North Vietnamese guns.



The raids continued from sunset to sunrise throughout May into June and sporadically at other times while Hanson took on fuel, supplies and ammunition during the day. The continual combat missions and replenishments kept her crew awake approximately 22 hours per day and the two hours of sleep the crew did get basically consisted of 5 or 10 minutes here and there.

On 10 May 1972, Hanson participated in Operation Custom Tailor, a history making strike that assembled the most formidable cruiser/destroyer armada in the Western Pacific since World War II. During this strike, Hanson entered the harbor and military targets within four miles of Haiphong, North Vietnam were hit, and enemy opposition was heavy. Hanson was also the last US Naval vessel to enter Haiphong harbor prior to the mining of the harbor and she was the last ship out. No other US Naval vessels entered Haiphong harbor during the remainder of the war.

During this heightened tempo of intense combat operations, hostile enemy forces fired thousands of rockets and artillery rounds at Hanson causing it to sustain battle damage from direct and shrapnel hits.

In June 1972 during night raids, Hanson dueled with North Vietnamese 155 millimeter coastal batteries near Hon La and Hon Mat islands and was hit numerous times. The shells used by the North were anti-aircraft, so most of its battle damage was shrapnel punctures to the aluminum superstructure. During one daylight raid the Hanson was struck by three Chicom (Chinese Communist) rockets with one unexploded warhead landing within a few feet of a damage control party in the main deck passageway. Miraculously, there was no loss of life aboard Hanson.

In July 1972, Hanson lost her main gyro and steering engine and put in at Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands for repairs and returned to the combat theater. It is believed the replacement parts came from another destroyer that had been damaged beyond repair by a river launched mine.

While conducting combat operations off the coast of Chu Lai on 17 September 1972, Hanson received a report indicating Mộ Đức District was being overrun by thousands of enemy troops. An Army detachment of 120 men were in Mộ Đức District] defending their position, with the help of 20th TASS FAC Air Force Captains Richard L. Poling and Joseph Personnett (reconnaissance pilots flying an armed OV-10), and desperately needed heavy artillery support to prevent its garrison from being annihilated.

Hanson was and the only gunship in the area (about 40 miles away), so it was ordered to get to the "center arena" of Mộ Đức as rapidly as possible. However, Hanson would need to travel through and past jagged coral reefs and an anti-ship minefield with precision and at high speed to arrive in a timely manner, which created additional danger for the ship and its crew, particularly considering her forward and aft magazines were packed with highly expolsive gunpowder and artillery rounds. Hanson’s only alternative would be to go around the coral reefs and anti-ship mines, which would have made the journey about 80 miles instead of 40. Even at high speed, this would have delayed her arrival to the battle zone by at least an hour and would have most likely resulted in the loss of all 120 soldiers and the 2 Air Force pilots.

With time being of the essence, Captain Watson summoned Seaman Apprentice Dennis Wappes to the bridge and asked if he would volunteer to steer the perilous route, as Wappes was the only helmsman he had confidence in for such a mission. Knowing many lives were at stake and dependent on his decision, Wappes stepped up and promptly took control of Hanson’s helm with LTJG David Vandover as the officer in command of the bridge. Due to Hanson's timely arrival, Captain Joseph Personnett (seated behind Captain Richard L. Poling), was able to effectively direct Hanson's 5"/38 artillery rounds onto enemy troops, thus saving the lives of all 120 soldiers.

For her timely arrival and accurate shooting in the battle for Mộ Đức District and participation in a daring raid on Haiphong during Operation Custom Tailor, Hanson’s crew received the Meritorious Unit Commendation from Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Chief of Naval Operations on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy. Air Force Captains Richard L. Poling and Joseph Personnett were both awarded the Air Force Cross by President Richard Nixon for extraordinary heroism.

In addition to being credited for her role in saving Mộ Đức District and conducting daring raids on Haiphong, Hanson participated in surveillance and interdiction of WBLC (Waterborne Logistics Craft) barges transporting weapons and ammunition along the coastline that had been provided by a Chicom supply ship.

During the many raids on Haiphong, United States Naval Forces strategically placed several anti-ship minefields in and around the ports of Haiphong, Hon Gai, Cẩm Phả, Vinh, Quảng Khê, Đồng Hới, Thanh Hóa and other strategic locations to hinder Russian and Chinese efforts to supply enemy forces with weapons and ammunition. Having been warned to “travel at your own risk” and not being able to safely enter Haiphong Harbor, China found other ways to get supplies to the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong soldiers by mooring a supply ship a few yards off Vietnam’s coastline.

Since China was not officially involved with the war and had not made any direct attacks on U.S. Armed Forces, any firepower by Hanson that accidentally hit the Chicom could be regarded as an act of war against China. So Hanson steamed close by watching as the WBLC barges attempted to move away from the Chicom and hurry to the shoreline, at which time Hanson would attempt to interdict them. However, the surveillance and interdiction made Hanson an easy target, as gun emplacements near the Chicom could fire at Hanson at will, but Hanson could not return fire due to the close proximity of the enemy's guns to the Chicom, so Hanson had to continually zigzag to avoid enemy artillery.

With the Chicom having avoided the minefields, it seemed to have found a clever way to avoid the Navy's' efforts to prevent them from providing enemy forces with supplies. But Hanson's officers were a bit sharper, as it was monsoon season, which also meant “typhoon season”, and the worst place for a ship during a typhoon was being moored or in shallow water near a shoreline.

Having superior ability to monitor weather conditions and with a powerful typhoon about to hit the area, Hanson cleverly maintained her station, as if there was nothing out of the ordinary, which was to avoid alerting the Chicom of the pending storm. At the last minute without leaving time for the Chicom to deduce the situation and prepare, Hanson broke off its surveillance and interdiction heading directly into the rapidly approaching storm. Being moored in shallow water just a few yards off the shoreline while having tons of food and supplies, as well as fork lifts, cranes and other equipment on its main deck, the Chicom was violently pounded by the fierce typhoon. Suffering structural damage and having its cargo blown off its decks or washed out to sea, the Chicom retreated to China and was never seen again.

With an end to Hanson's WBLC surveillance and interdiction, she moved on to participate in other operations including plane guard for the USS Midway and combat missions in Quảng Trị Province.

On 10 November 1972, Hanson returned to San Diego for her post-deployment stand-down, an INSURV inspection and decommissioning preparation. Following the Christmas holidays, Hanson went through tender and DATC availabilities and came to her final resting place at Quaywall South Six, U.S. Naval Station, San Diego.

All told, USS Hanson spent 183 out of 214 days at sea during the April–November deployment, expended 14,486 rounds of 5"/38 ammunition, steamed 48,176 miles, burned 3,967,104 gallons of fuel and successfully completed 97 underway replenishments.

Decommissioning, 1973
Hanson was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 31 March 1973.

The ship was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) on 18 April 1973. She served in the Republic of China Navy as Liao Yang (DDG-921). After 31 years of service in the Republic Of China (Taiwan) Navy, she was decommissioned on 1 June 2004 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In July 2006, the ROC/TW conducted a national joint armed forces Han-Kung Exercise. The Hanson participated as a target ship and was sent to the bottom of the South China Sea. She is now resting as an "artificial reef".

Awards
8 battle stars (Korea)

7 battle stars (Vietnam)

Hanson and the crew of the 1972 cruise were awarded the following;

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Combat Action Ribbon

National Defense Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Some of the above awards were awarded on previous cruises as well. No information is available on Hanson's many other awards.