Lawrence K. Hanna - 2009
MHS 1962 Graduate
Lawrence K. Hanna, class of 1962, was nominated by Joe Knight, Richard Walker, and Tom Kishman.
Having graduated from MHS, he attended Embry Aeronautical University, where he received a bachelor's degree in professional aeronautics and associate of science degree in aviation management. He entered the U.S. Army in 1965, completed his basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., and was accepted to the warrant officer flight program in 1966. He saw action in Vietnam for 19 months and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart, 47 air medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.
After Vietnam, Hanna was stationed in Savannah, Ga., at the Army's Aviation Center, training other pilots for duty in Vietnam. He left the Army in 1969 and returned to Minerva. While working at Republic Steel, he joined the Army National Guard, but returned to the active Army in 1972 and served tours in Korea, Ft. Knox, Panama Canal Zone, and Honduras, to name just a few. While stationed in Honduras, he was deployed for the invasion of Panama and the capture of Gen. Manuel Noriega.
While assigned at Cameron Station, Va., with the U.S. Army Aeronautical Services Office, Hanna served on the tri-service committee to redesign the Flight Plan, Department of Defense Form 175. At his last duty station in Virginia, he was the operations officer for the largest VIP support unit in the U.S. Army, which served the Army's senior leadership, Department of Defense senior executive civilians, and Congress. He supervised and directed detachment flight operations with assets in excess of $30,000,000. During this time he was deployed to Saudia Arabia to support the patriot missile batteries of the Gulf War.
During his 28 years in the military, Hanna has amassed more than 12,000 hours in helicopters and airplanes and is an FFA-certified flight instructor in both. He also received the Legion of Merit and three Meritorious Service medals for his service.
He retired from the military in 1994, and was accepted into the Virginia State Police Academy. He worked as a state trooper in Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia for three years, and then he was trooper-pilot for another five years, retiring in 2002.
Hanna moved to Enterprise, Ala., in 2002 and accepted a position as helicopter flight instructor with Lear Sigler Services at Ft. Rucker, where he trains Army and foreign student pilots. He continues in that position today. He is active in sports, mainly basketball, softball, soccer and racquetball, and has coached in these sports for many years as a way to fulfill his commitment to his community.
In 1974 he married the former Janis Lowmiller. They have two children, Sherri and Jeffrey. Both Hannas are active in their church, St. Luke Methodist. Whatever the task, they can always be counted on to assist.