Recollected by Lt. W. Boyd Jacobsen as best possible regarding Omer Hansen in Boyd’s written words:

Then our 2nd battalion, on the night of the eighth (Feb. 8th, 1945) was marched again to the same place to renew the attack. The Engineer Battalion was there again with a few small boats. But this time the boats had outboard motors.

A few days later - - - .

Within a day or so my group moved back toward the Sauer, and found that in the day or two since we crossed the river, a few more of our troops had crossed the Sauer and arrived in the area. Captain Salonick told me that the engineers had started to build rope bridges over the Sauer each night – but at dawns first light the German artillery blew out the bridges. There was a line of German pillboxes between us and the Sauer River. Captain Salonick said I should take some men and try to find where the German observation facility was. I selected about 5 or 6 of my platoon members for this, but my bazooka man said his bazooka wasn’t sparking when he tested it. So I asked the Capt. If we could get a bazooka from another platoon. Then private Omer Hansen from another platoon, who happened to be the only other soldier from Utah in our company, volunteered to come with us, even though we said we only needed his bazooka, not him. But the Captain said of Omer wanted to go with us, it was OK. Omer then stuck with me like a shadow.

For the first time I had sergeant Fullmer lead the way instead of leading myself as I had always done in the past. In a while the men ahead took shelter because a German sharpshooter from further in Germany was shooting down at them. When I arrived I fund that private Meador had been killed. However, right in the area was a vertical tower shaped structure which did have visibility on the top with a nice telescope. We only saw that, but did not try to climb the structure to the telescope. The men with me were trying to hide. But I crept ahead with Omer and spotted the secondary side embrasure of a pillbox. I moved toward it, and saw a rifle pointing toward me and Omer. I ducked, and realized that Omer hadn’t ducked, but was on hands and knees aiming his bazooka. I reached up to pull him down. But Omer was shot right in the left side of his chest. I knew he was mortally wounded, but surprisingly while lying back, side by side, he plainly talked, and asked me to tell his family and his girl friend what had happened. I remembered his girl friend’s name for many years, but can’t recall it now. I still can’t recount about Omer without getting emotional.

(a second account from Dad of Omer via an email) - “Omer Hansen from Utah, was shot while right next to me, and died in my arms, after asking me to contact his parents later. I never cried during the active war, but when I located Omer’s parents home seven miles from Logan, I couldn’t help crying as I sat in our car in front of their home. I never was able to be able to talk to them, after trying twice to do so. But I did ask another soldier to contact his parents and convey the story. I still can’t recount about Omer without getting e**

Omer J Hansen