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LTC Harold E. ""Ole"" HansonSeptember 3rd, 1923 - December 22nd, 2011Our ""Ole"" passed away with his immediate family by his side on Dec. 22nd. LTC Hanson was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and later in the USAF. He served during WWII flying P-40 Warhawks and P-51 Mustangs. He was the ""Top Gun"" in his class 44-B. During this time he survived a training accident for which he was made a member of the ""Caterpillar Club"", for using his parachute in an emergency jump over the Gulf of Mexico. During the Korean war he instructed NATO pilots from France, Belgium and Denmark. He flew various aircraft after WWII including, T-33, F-80, F-89, F-102, F-106 during the 1950's and 1960's. Flying the A-37 ""Tweety Bird"", in Vietnam, he flew over 500 sorties. As the oldest pilot in training class, he was again ""Top Gun"". While stationed at Paine AFB, he was a flight leader, at Kincheloe AFB, squadron commander, and at Bien Hoa AFB, Vietnam squadron commander. Among the medals he received were the Distinguished Flying cross and the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters.His USAF travels took him and his family, all over the world. He and his family were stationed in: Utah, California, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Maine, Thule Greenland, Washington, Okinawa, Michigan, Vietnam and California again. He loved to fly. He enjoyed his time with all his family. He was quick to smile, chuckle and laugh out loud. He was a gentle soul, and told great stories.As a young man in Garfield, WA, he and his brothers and sister, were raised by his Uncle Ford. In high school he, excelled in Football, Basketball and Baseball. He was the quarterback on the football team that was for two years, undefeated, untied and un-scored upon. He enjoyed sports and sporting events. One year he attended the World Series, Rose Bowl and Super Bowl games. He enjoyed going to golf tournaments, and watching golf and all other sports on TV. He played golf for many years after his retirement. He also watched the stock market every day, his advice was always ""Buy Gold"".He was preceded in death by his parents, Uncle Ford, brother Cecil, brother Robert who also served the Army Air Corps during WWII, and Sister Violet.He is survived by the love of his life, Ruby, his wife of 68 years, son Edward, daughter-in-law Hallette, granddaughter Amy, and sister Ann. There are also many other nieces and nephews in the family.He is a beloved husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather and uncle.Funeral service 11AM, Friday Dec. 30th, Cornwells, Wilsonville OR. Interment 2PM Willamette National Cemetery, Portland OR.In Remembrance: The next time you see a service person, please shake their hand and thank them for their service to the country. High FlightOh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds - and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring thereI've chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air.Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,I've topped the windswept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or even eagle flew -And, while with silent lifting mind I've trodThe high untresspassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand and touched the face of God.Pilot Officer Gillespie MageeNo 412 squadron, RCAFFriday, Dec 30th, 2011 - @ 11:00 am

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Harold Edward Hanson

September 3, 1923 - December 22, 2011