Honor your hero with thoughts, memories, images and stories.
For my dad, Sgt John E Hansen, who was more than just a soldier to me. I miss you every single day and wish you were here to watch me grow up. I am happy we were able to create wonderful memories together and that I got to spend all of last year living with you. I am working hard on planning the memorial bench in your honor here in Austin so that I have something to remember you by. I hope it brings comfort to others and hope that someday I may find peace in all of this. I love you Daddy and I miss you very much. ~Nadia
Please share a holiday memory of your parent (i.e. birthday, religious holiday, vacation).
My dad took me to DisneyWorld in Florida in 2010, months after my parents were divorced. We did lots of fun things together but I really wanted to swim with the dolphins and was hoping we would get to do that. I was so happily surprised when the day came for us to finally do that. It showed me that even though my parents were no longer married, my dad still cared for me and wanted to do whatever it took to make me happy. I look at those pictures of us when we were in Florida and I am so happy I was able to spend that wonderful week with my dad. So thankful that my dad took the time to plan a trip that was all about me and that he enjoyed it as much as I did. My dad always made me feel special and this was just another one of those times where i felt like his little girl. I felt loved.
How has the loss of your parent impacted your family?
It's been the most difficult period in my life and hard for me as a 13 year old to put into words. I sometimes feel like the forgotten child and feel like my stepmother of 2 years has received all of the support and help. I'm hurt that my stepmom refuses to give me a copy of my dad's will or even try and see that I am taken care of. I have asked for her to settle my dad's affairs and to let me get my belongings from the house but she won't respond to any of my requests. It is very hurtful to deal with this on top of losing my dad and makes me wonder how my dad would feel about all of this. I am sure he would have wanted me to be taken care of as well as my stepmom and brother. I just don't think he ever thought my stepmom would place money before my well being or that she would shun me the way she has. So, on top of losing my dad i also feel like I have lost a stepmom who i truly loved and also any type of relationship with my half brother.
Tell us about your experience as a military child (i.e. duty stations, friendships, etc.).
I was lucky enough to have a lot of years between my parents getting out of the navy and my dad joining the Army. So, I have been exposed to both the positive and negative of both sides. I am also lucky that my mom was an Army brat and was able to help me with the transition. her dad served 20 plus years in the Army but my mom said she was lucky she had brothers and sisters. I agree with her that military life is most difficult for an only child. I am happy to have had those experiences though and wouldn't change them for the world.
What are some memorable lessons your parent taught you?
That honor and integrity should be more than just words that are spoken. That you should always make sure that your family is taken care of and not to trust that to someone. That your parents can be divorced but still strive to raise a happy kid.
What did you like to do with your parent?
We liked to go to costume shops and toy stores and try on wigs and fake mustaches. We would talk in our own secret language that only my dad and I understood. We also liked playing video games together and he would always pretend to be upset if I beat him although I knew he wasn't.
What did you love most about your parent?
I loved how silly my dad was and how he always made me feel special. He always said that I was his number 1 girl and that there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for me. No matter how silly or ridiculous my requests were he always found a way to make it happen.
What did your parent bring to your family?
No matter how big i thought problems were my dad was always able to calm my fears. He never took anything too seriously and that made me realize that you have to enjoy life and not worry so much.
What did your parent enjoy most about serving in the military?
My dad liked the respect that came with the uniform and really was all about the Army. he was in the Air Force way before I was born and served in The Navy for a few years while my mom was also active duty. But there was about a 6 year gap where my dad wasn't working and didn't know what to do to provide for us. So when he was finally able to enlist in the Army he felt happy that he was able to provide financially. he said the reason he joined was for me and to provide for me and that he would always take care of me, no matter what.
What do you miss most about your parent?
Having someone to depend on and count on. My dad was always able to give me a different viewpoint on things and helped me see things in a different way. I also really miss being daddy's little girl and hearing him tell me how much he loves me. I am sure with every year that passes there will be more things I miss about my dad especially with each milestone in my life. He won't be there at my sweet 16, graduation, to walk me down the aisle. All I know is that everything I do is to make him proud and I hope one day he can tell me that he is proud of me.
What has been the greatest challenge since the loss of your parent?
Understanding that regardless of what is going on with my stepmom that my dad did love me. In the beginning when my stepmom didn't want to split the ashes i was really hurt. Then when she decided to keep all of the life insurance to herself, not settle his estate or give me my belongings in the house, and basically go into hiding i felt like my dad didn't love me. Surely if he did he would make sure that i was taken care of. Then i had to realize after talking to my counselor that my dad did love me but probably put his trust in his wife and she isn't living up to his wishes.Also that my dad may have taken care of me in his will which is probably why my stepmom won't give me a copy of his will or probate his estate. So dealing with that after losing my dad has been a big challenge.
What message would you like to share with families with a loved one still serving in the military?
Never put off telling someone that you love them. Enjoy every second and every moment with your family and loved one. Take plenty of pictures and make plenty of memories.
What message would you like to share with other Gold Star families?
To always remember those who are affected by the loss of fallen service member and to reach out to them and make sure they are included. The most painful thing for me is feeling like I have been forgotten and that i don't have a right to grieve like anyone else.
What was your parent’s relationship like with you?
I was really close with my dad. I was his 1st born child and only girl so I was doted on constantly. My parents divorced in december of 2009 and I lived with my mom and dad all that time. But even when my dad remarried early 2010 he made sure that i knew he still loved me very much. We shared silly stories over the phone, by email, and on FB and I never once felt like a burden to him. When my mom asked my dad about me coming to live with him for a while he did not hesitate and drove all the way from NC to Texas to pick me up. I am so grateful i was able to spend all of 2011 living with my dad and his new wife Amber and my baby half brother Jack.
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.
How did you meet your spouse?
I met my spouse on a dating website.
What did you love most about your spouse?
What I loved most about my husband was that he completed me.
What do you miss most about your spouse?
I simply miss him.
What did your spouse bring to your family?
My husband brought laughter and happiness to our family.
What was your wedding like?
Fun!
Please share a holiday memory of your spouse (i.e. birthday, religious holiday, vacation).
Christmas 2009 after all the presents were opened my husband started a Nerf gun war with the kiddos.
What was your spouse most passionate about?
My husband was most passionate about his family.
Tell us about your spouse’s personality.
Man of few words, silly, glass half full kinda guy.
What inspired your spouse to join the military?
His father
What was your spouse’s relationship like with you and with your children (if applicable)?
Supportive and nurturing
How has the loss of your spouse impacted your family?
I could not even begin to put into words how massive the impact has been on our family.
Please share a funny story about your spouse.
One night he farted so loud that he woke himself from a dead sleep laughing.
What did your spouse enjoy most about serving in the military?
Protecting his family's freedom
What has been the greatest challenge since the loss of your spouse?
Breathing
Tell us about your experience as a military family (i.e. duty stations, friendships, etc.).
Fort Carson, Fort Brag, Joint base Lewis-McChord. One tour in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.
What message would you like to share with families with a loved one still serving in the military
That your loved ones return home to you safe and sound
What message would you like to share with other Gold Star families?
My heart goes out to each and everyone of you