RAYMOND A. HANSEN, CDR, USN
Raymond Hansen '22
Lucky Bag
From the 1922 Lucky Bag:
RAYMOND ALFRED HANSEN
Madison, Wisconsin
"Ray," "Joe Blum," "Navy," "Swede."
"NAVY JOE" first gained renown through his vocal efforts in the Mess Hall; but since the days of Plebehood, "Swede" has neglected his voice. Why he ever chose the Navy is a question, even to himself. He has a negative affinity for water, even though a member of the Sub Squad during two years of his academic sojourn.
Early graduation nearly saved the Bureau of Ordnance a considerable quantity of ammunition by prematurely removing "Navy" from the Rifle Squad. Nevertheless, a Masked "N" was justly won by the boy for his wonderful presentation of naval character in the "Masqueraders." "Navy" is also a woz at the photographic game. Few are the "picture books" in which he has not left his mark, somehow, somewhere. A characteristic domestic conversation in his Academic domicile is: "'Joe,' dear, art thou printing tonight?" To which "Joe" doth answer:
"Yes. I'll be sitting on the coals
Printing negs for poor damned souls,
And you'll come for prints in hell
Rifle Squad (3, 2); Numerals (2); Masqueraders (2); Lucky Bag.
RAYMOND ALFRED HANSEN
Madison, Wisconsin
"Ray," "Joe Blum," "Navy," "Swede."
"NAVY JOE" first gained renown through his vocal efforts in the Mess Hall; but since the days of Plebehood, "Swede" has neglected his voice. Why he ever chose the Navy is a question, even to himself. He has a negative affinity for water, even though a member of the Sub Squad during two years of his academic sojourn.
Early graduation nearly saved the Bureau of Ordnance a considerable quantity of ammunition by prematurely removing "Navy" from the Rifle Squad. Nevertheless, a Masked "N" was justly won by the boy for his wonderful presentation of naval character in the "Masqueraders." "Navy" is also a woz at the photographic game. Few are the "picture books" in which he has not left his mark, somehow, somewhere. A characteristic domestic conversation in his Academic domicile is: "'Joe,' dear, art thou printing tonight?" To which "Joe" doth answer:
"Yes. I'll be sitting on the coals
Printing negs for poor damned souls,
And you'll come for prints in hell
Rifle Squad (3, 2); Numerals (2); Masqueraders (2); Lucky Bag.
Loss
Raymond was killed in action when USS Vincennes (CA 44) was sunk early in the morning of August 9, 1942 by Japanese surface forces at the Battle of Savo Island.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
n June 1916, Raymond played the role of Gonzalo in the Madison high school performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”
In the 1916 yearbook: Hansen Gets $5.00 and Costs. Ray Hansen was arraigned in court this morning for the wanton destruction of public property. In a recent basket ball game, his head collided with a radiator. The damages done to the radiator will amount to ten dollars.
In March 1917, Raymond participated in a tri-school debate on whether America should not own and operate her own railroads.
Raymond graduated in 1917. “Ray.” Forum 1, 2, 3, 4; Vice-President 3. Latin Club 2. Dramatic Club 4; President 4. Tempest 3. As You Like It 4. Interscholastic Debating 3, 4. Class Secretary 3. Editor-in-Chief of Tychoberahn 4. Will no more offend you than becomes me for my good.
In the 1917 yearbook: Railroading on the Ty Board. Ray Hansen: All those who would be in favor of having a cover like this respond by saying “Aye.” There are only one or two objecting so we’ll consider the thing passed. The stuff has been ordered already anyhow.
At the University of Wisconsin, he was a member of Edwin Booth and Philomathia.
In March 1918, Raymond was appointed first alternate to former high school classmate John Higgins by Senator La Follette for the Naval Academy. In April, Raymond and a former high school classmate gave a Shakespearean program at Bethel Lutheran church.
He married Virginia Storck on April 27, 1934, in the Naval Academy chapel.
His father Alfred was a machinist born in Denmark, and his mother was Carrie who was born in Norway. His brother was Chester, and his sisters were Jeanette and Eleanor.
From A Log of the Vincennes:
Commander Hansen was born on March 16, 1899, at Madison, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school and attending the University of Wisconsin one year, he entered the service in World War I. He had been a member of the R.O.T.C. at the University. While stationed at Fort Sheridan, he was appointed to the Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1922. After completing a course at the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut, he served on board the Idaho until 1925, and then the U.S.S. S-37 from 1926 to 1928. His next service was in charge of the U.S.S. O-3 and the R-11 (1930-32), after which he completed a course of instruction at the Deep Sea Diving School, Washington, D.C.
During 1933-35, Commander Hansen was in charge of the Experimental Diving Unit at the Washington Navy Yard. He then served on board the Arkansas and at the Naval Academy, where he taught French. In 1940, he was assigned to the Vincennes as Damage Control Officer, serving in the Atlantic and the Pacific until reported missing after the Battle of Savo Island. He was commissioned Ensign, June 3, 1922; Lieutenant (jg), July 9, 1925; Lieutenant, February 1, 1926; Lieutenant Commander, July 30, 1937; and Commander, January 3, 1942.
In high school and the university, Commander Hansen was active in debating and dramatics, and he was editor of his high school class book. He was also an accomplished pianist. While in the naval service he assisted in developing the Momsen Lung, and he became Executive Officer of the Vincennes when that ship went to the Pacific in 1942. Apparently his naval training was very diversified even to including aviation. He is survived by his wife, the former Virginia Storck, and their four children, who live at 2206 Fern Street, Arlington, Virginia.
His wife was listed as next of kin. He had two sons, Raymond Alfred Hansen, Jr (USNA CLASS 1961) and Louis Storck Hansen, and two daughters, Dorothea Hansen (Gilligan) and Eleanor Hansen (Nichols). (Information from Raymond Jr. '61 via email on November 6, 2018.)
Photographs
Photograph courtesy Raymond A. Hansen, Jr. '61.
Photograph courtesy Raymond A. Hansen, Jr. '61.
Photograph courtesy Raymond A. Hansen, Jr. '61.
From The Capital Times on July 11, 1918
From his high school yearbook
"1917 Madison-Baraboo-Edgerton Triangle"
Related Articles
Eugene Elmore '22 was Raymond's roommate, and was also lost in the Battle of Savo Island (while serving aboard USS Quincy (CA 39)). Information from Raymond A. Hansen, Jr. '61 via email on November 6, 2018.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
May 1923
July 1923
September 1923
November 1923
January 1924
July 1924
September 1924
November 1924
January 1925
March 1925
May 1925
July 1925
October 1925
January 1926
October 1926
January 1927
April 1927
October 1927
January 1928
April 1928
July 1928
October 1928
January 1929
April 1929
July 1929
October 1929
January 1930
April 1930
October 1930
January 1931
April 1931
July 1931
October 1931
January 1932
April 1932
October 1932
January 1933
LTjg Robley Clark '24 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.)
LTjg Fremont Wright '25 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.)
April 1933
LT William France '24 (Naval Gun Factory)
LTjg Fremont Wright '25 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.)
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
July 1934
October 1934
January 1935
LT John Hollowell, Jr. '22 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.)
January 1936
April 1936
July 1936
April 1937
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
January 1939
LCDR William Hobby, Jr. '23
LT Richard Baron '24
LT Harold Pound '25
LT William Graham, Jr. '25
LT Andrew Harris '25
LT Hilan Ebert '26
LT John Bermingham '29
LT Egbert Roth '29
LT Victor Gaulin '30
LT Russell Ross '30
LT John Bisson '30
October 1939
June 1940
November 1940
April 1941
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
