letter
Catalog Number
T91-1162.1a-cDescription
Hand-written letter dated 1-21-1918, 4 pages (T91-1162.1a-b) and an envelope (T91-1162.1c).The letter, written by Floyd Hansen, begins with "Dear brother Niles, Rec'd your letter and was glad to get it, my application has gone in, but I haven't heard if I was accepted or not, expect to hear in about a week. How is everthing going in Holland".
History
Floyd C. Hansen was born in Holland, MI on 1-8-1894 to Christian “Chris” Hansen (1863-1937) of Norway andMary McNees Hansen (1867-1935). Floyd's siblings included Niles (1891-1968), Harvy (1897-1963), Oliver (1899-1963), Homer (1901-1997), Elton (1903-1989), Carol (1905-1988) and Hilda (1907-2004).
As a child Floyd delivered the Holland Sentinel. He left Holland in July of 1912, age 18, seeking adventure. He served aboard a US freighter as a cook, visited Scotland and passed through the Panama Canal. During one of his trips across the Atlantic Floyd was detained on the charge of being a German spy. He won his release when he proved he was an American citizen.
Floyd joined the US Army in June of 1917. By 1919 he had earned the rank of sergeant. Floyd's unit fought in France and Belgium.
About 1930 Floyd became a chef at the Warm Friend Hotel in Holland, MI. Floyd passed away in Florida in 1988.