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Remember...Marvin Jim Hanna
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| Marvin Jim Hanna was born on January 7, 1948, in Nicholas County, West Virginia, to Arch and Lovie McClung Hanna. Mr. Hanna was a World War II veteran. The family lived in Canvas, West Virginia. |  Marvin Jim Hanna and his father. Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
According to his military records and his obituary, Marvin Hanna attended Nicholas County High School in nearby Summersville and worked for Leckie Smokeless Coal Company in Anjean, West Virginia. According to obituaries for family members, Mr. and Mrs. Hanna's children included Marvin and his siblings, Shirley, Lawrence, Jerry, Phillip, and Kerry. ("Lovie and Arch Hanna," Beckley Post Herald, 8 November 1977; "Rite Saturday for W. VA. GI," Charleston Daily Mail, 24 May 1968.)
Marvin Hanna was placed with the 101st Airborne Division, 327th Infantry 2nd Battalion, B Company. His tour of duty started on April 10, 1968.
In March 1968, the 101st Airborne was involved, with the 82nd, in a series of operations. The first was called Operation Carentan I. The goal was to establish secure areas of operation and control vital routes in the Thua Thien Province in South Vietnam. Firebase Henry was built, and the 101st and 82nd continued operations. Early advance was unopposed, but later in March there was more contact with the enemy and casualties suffered. By the end of March, a second firebase was established, and Operation Carentan I was ended. Operation Carentan II began on April 1, 1968. It was in April that Marvin Hanna joined the action. Contact continued with the enemy in Thua Thien and loss of life began to mount with increased contact with the enemy. ("Operation Carentan," Wikipedia, last edited 23 January 2021, accessed 4 February 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Carentan.) By the time Carentan I and II ended, 193 U.S. servicemen were dead, 1193 were wounded, and 11 were missing. ("Operation Carentan II Information," Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, 25 May 2020, accessed 4 February 2021, https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/panel/battle/68040101.HTM.)
It was during Operation Carentan II that Marvin Hanna lost his life. According to information on the Coffelt Database, he was a member of the infantry and was killed in action, a ground casualty who died of small arms fire while engaged in a firefight with hostile forces. He died on May 11, 1968, a month and a day after he'd begun his tour of duty. He was awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
 Headstone for Marvin Jim Hanna in Perkins Cemetery. Courtesy Cynthia Mullens |
Prior to Marvin's service, his brother Lawrence Hanna had served in the Vietnam War until 1964. He returned to Nicholas County and died in Summersville Lake in 1966 when the boat in which he was riding capsized. Lawrence was unable to reach the shore and drowned. Marvin Hanna was buried in the Perkins Cemetery in Canvas, West Virginia. The hardships of the family were not yet finished. Mr. Hanna, a WWII veteran, and Mrs. Hanna passed away in a house fire in November 1977 and joined their son in Perkins Cemetery. |
Article prepared by Cynthia Mullens
February 2021
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
