Sgt. John E. Hansen, 41, of Austin, Texas died July 26 in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Hansen, an artillery data systems specialist, joined the Air Force in October 1999 before transferring to the Army seven years later. Hansen completed assignments in New Mexico, Colorado and North Carolina before reporting to Lewis-McChord in December 2011. This was his second combat deployment; he deployed to Iraq from December 2007 to February 2009.
Sergeant John Eric Hansen age 41. Killed in action in Afghanistan. Beloved husband of Amber Hansen; dearest father of Jack Hansen and Nadia Hansen; step-father of River and Thatcher Kinard; loving son of the late Robert James Hansen, Jr. and the late Wanda Mae (Capes) Hansen; dear brother of Gage-David Hansen, Lisa (Joe) Hansen-Culfa, and Lori Hansen; son in law of Nanette Trueblood, and John Wray; brother in law of Taylor Trueblood.