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Title: Anton (Anthony) A. Hannel
Dates: 1939-2010
Collection Number: MSS 11216
Quantity: 1.75 feet
Abstract: Consists of correspondence; papers relating to Hannel’s military service, many of which focus on his leadership of a reconnaissance patrol which was ambushed, the recommendation that he receive a silver star for this effort, and his later efforts to correct a false report of the action; information and publications relating to the 164th Americal Infantry Division, 164th Infantry Regiment, and Guadalcanal. The bulk of the collection centers around World War II although several publications and articles relate to Vietnam.
Provenance: The collection was donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Larry Hannel, Anton’s son, on March 28, 2014.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed. Permission to use any radio or television broadcast portions of the collection must be sought from the creator.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collections:
MSS 10958 William E. (Bill) Shemorry
MSS 11111 James Fenelon 164th Infantry Regiment
MSS 20993 John Hjelle Scrapbook, 1941-1977
00607 World War II Photographs
2008-P-032 Donald J. Bosworth
2011-P-005 Douglas Schweigert Photographs
D0308 188th Field Artillery North Dakota National Guard Bismarck (ND)
OGL#1278 Carleton Elliott Simensen Military Heritage Collection 4164th Infantry
Association Records, Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, University of North Dakota
Transfer: Issues of the 164th Infantry News were transferred to the State Archives Publications in March 2014.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Anton (Anthony) A. Hannel was born in Dickinson (ND) September 27, 1914. He attended elementary school and high school in Dickinson. Hannel earned a BA from Dickinson State College in 1940.
Hannel served in the North Dakota National Guard 164th Infantry when his unit was activated for duty during WWII and became part of the Americal Division assigned to defend New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. He served active duty in the Army from February 10, 1941 to February 2, 1946. During his service, he served 43 months as an infantry platoon leader. He was enlisted before he became a commissioned officer. Hannel was stationed in the Pacific Theater in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Fiji, Bougainville, the Philippines and Japan. His unit was one of the most highly decorated units because they were involved in such intensive fighting. Their unit was the first Army unit on offensive in WWII. Hannel was promoted to Captain by the end of his active duty. He then returned to the National Guard and was a member of the 6380th USAR Study Group at Oakland Army Base. While in the National Guard during his post WWII service, Hannel was called upon to help evaluate the Army units in Vietnam. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
He attended Montana State University, Missoula, and pursued a Forestry Major (1945-1946). Hannel was employed with the U.S. Weather Bureau at Missoula (MT), Fresno and San Francisco (CA), retiring in 1975 after 34 years of service. He completed a 67 day tour around the world following his retirement. He was a graduate of Command and General Staff College, and retired from the Army Ready Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Correspondence, 1942-2007
2 Reconnaissance report correction and silver star recommendation 1944-2004
3 Certificates, military papers, service records, identification card, training materials 1939-1997 (SEE ALSO Box 3)
4 Hannel personal information (vitae, birth certificate information, Veteran’s Administration evaluation-RESTRICTED) 1954- 2002
5 Information about the Americal Infantry Division, 164th Infantry Regiment, and Guadalcanal 1944-2007
6 “My Own Little Corner… of the War: A Look Back…After 50 Years to Guadalcanal,” Harry Wiens 1992
7 C. A. Buser reminiscence and miscellaneous ca. 1992-2009
8 Diary of Colonel Samuel Baglien (copy) 1942-1943
9 Photographs (Nonresident Career Course Graduating Class, Section 3, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College [Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1962] and portraits of Hannel [ca. 1942 and 1972])
10 Miscellaneous publications and printed material ca. 1966-1995
11 Newspaper clippings and published articles ca. 1944-2005
Box 2:
1 Americal newsletter (and journal) 1992-2007
2 Guadalcanal Echoes 1984-2004
3 Guadalcanal Echoes, 2005-2010
Box 3: Oversized certificates, 1939-1940
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