http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=68.131.65.89wiki143 - User contributions [en]2026-05-15T07:03:16ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=William_Hank&diff=3823924William Hank2025-05-30T02:13:19Z<p>68.131.65.89: Changed control to command as that is the correct term</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox military person<br />
| name = William Edwin Hank<br />
| image = William Hank.jpg<br />
| birth_date = September 25, 1902<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1942|11|14|1902|9|25}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Norfolk, Virginia]], US<br />
| death_place = near [[Savo Island]]<br />
| allegiance = United States<br />
| branch = [[United States Navy]]<br />
| serviceyears = 1925–1942<br />
| rank = [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]]<br />
| commands = [[USS Laffey (DD-459)]]<br />
| battles = [[World War II]]<br />
*[[Battle of Cape Esperance]]<br />
*[[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]]<br />
| awards = [[Navy Cross]] (2)<br>[[Purple Heart]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
Lieutenant Commander '''William Edwin Hank''' (25 September 1902 – 14 November 1942) was an officer in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]].<br />
<br />
Born at [[Norfolk, Virginia]], Hank graduated from the [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]] in 1925. During the years before World War II, he served at various shore stations and in {{USS|New York|CA-2}}, {{USS|Hull|DD-350}}, and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3}}. <br />
<br />
Commissioned a lieutenant commander in 1940, Hank took command of [[USS Laffey (DD-459)|''Laffey'' (DD-459)]] 1 April 1942. He received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his skillful handling of the ship during the [[Battle of Cape Esperance]]. <br />
<br />
Hank received a second Navy Cross for heroism during the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] 12–13 November. As ''Laffey'' fought the [[Japanese battleship Hiei|Japanese battleship ''Hiei'']], she was sunk by large caliber gunfire and a torpedo. Lieutenant Commander Hank was reported missing and presumed dead 14 November. His ship received the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] and he was awarded his second Navy Cross.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/20489|title=William Edwin Hank|work=Military Times}}</ref><br />
<br />
{{USS|Hank}} (DD-702) was named for him, and {{USS|Laffey|DD-724}} was named for his ship.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
{{DANFS}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hank, William Edwin}}<br />
[[Category:1902 births]]<br />
[[Category:1942 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]<br />
[[Category:United States Navy personnel killed in World War II]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)]]</div>68.131.65.89