Investigator John Albert Hanson

Mr. Hanson (the way you address Agents) was younger than most of the other Agents and we younger troops liked and respected him. I was in the 895th MP Company, assigned to MP Operations at Camp Kue. Some of the Agents had rooms on the 3rd floor of our building (there were 3 complete MP Companie in 3 barracks and other operational buildings. We had two complete CID Detachments, it was a very big unit). I had been at Stilwell Fieldhouse that day and stopped at the "Desk" area of Operations and it was buzzing. I was told that Agent Hanson was missing. The Duty Officer told me to get in uniform, there was a search being assembled. He was believed to be in the heavy jungle like ravine that separated Cmp Sukiran from Cmp Foster (which was a Marine Transport unit). There was a stream in the ravine but the sides were steep terrain. As we started we could see that there was evidence of a lot of foot traffic. As I recall, his body was found along the stream and appeared to have been pushed off the cliffs above. The investigation was resolved pretty quickly with Army CID and Marine NCIS involved. Within a few days we had a service at the church also in Camp Sukiran. Ironically, after the military I became a Deputy Sheriff in my home county in WV. I would become an investigator too, and work just short of 30 yrs. I often thought of S/Agent Hanson during my career and brought up the circumstances of his death in officer safety trainings that I would present to other officers over the years. Even after all of these years I still think of Agent Hansen, especially in May. In all my years in civilian LE, I have often thought of John especially in May. God bless you John, you are in the thoughts of many.

Det/Sgt (Sp 5) Tom Westfall, Ret'd
895th MP Co and Marshall County Sheriff's Department (Ret'd)

May 25, 2024