Donald Hancock

Donald Hancock was born in Danbury, Connecticut on July 19, 1926.  He enlisted in the Navy on July 27, 1943 earning the distinction of Apprentice Seaman (AS), Seaman 2nd Class (S2C), Seaman 1st Class (S1C), and finally Coxswain. He was assigned to the 7th Naval Beach Battalion which took part in the June 6, 1944 landings on Omaha Beach in Northern France. The 7th NBB was assigned to the western section of Omaha Beach and was attached to the Army's 6th Engineer Special Brigade. The 7th NBB remained on Omaha Beach for roughly three weeks. The primary purpose of the 7th NBB was to act as a liaison between the Navy's seaborne forces and the Army's ground forces. Members of the 7th NBB would have come ashore scattered amongst various other units' landing craft. Among the tasks of a Navy beach battalion were:

 

• Establish and maintain shore-to-ship communications
• Guide incoming and outgoing beach traffic
• Small boat repair
• Setup aid stations and field hospitals
• Evacuate casualties
• Demolition of beach obstacles

 

Hancock was the recipient of the American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, Army Unit Citation, Victory Ribbon, and the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon.