This Military Service Page was created/owned by
George Gibmeyer, RM2
to remember
Sansone, James Joseph, SN.
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SN James Joseph Sansone's last known activity was serving aboard USS Newport News (CA-148) off the coast of North and South Vietnam in 1972. On Sunday, September 10, 1972, SN Sansone died as a result of a non-hostile accident, having fallen overboard while manning a 5-inch mount. SN Sansone was on the outboard side of the mount holding onto the mount's metal ladder rungs, when suddenly, the mount lurched as it swung over the water, causing SN Sansone to lose his grip. Despite search and rescue attempts by an approaching mail helicopter and Newport News, SN Sansone's body was never recovered. He was 22 years old.
Description Operation Custom Tailor was an American cruiser and destroyer strike force that conducted a daring raid on Haiphong, North Vietnam, in May 1972. It was a history-making strike that involved the most formidable cruiser/destroyer fleet in the Western Pacific since World War II. During the strike, military targets within four miles of Haiphong were hit and enemy opposition was heavy.
Operation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the crew of USS Hanson.
Among the ships present was the USS Hanson, a destroyer that received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its participation in this operation and later providing artillery support to an (ARVN) Army detachment and two US soldiers (Staff Sgt. Carrol Jackson, who died and maj. William P. Collier, who survived) saving 21 of 120 men and preventing the Army headquarters from being overrun by enemy forces in Muc Dức District. Also present were the USS Buchanan, USS Newport News, USS Providence and USS Oklahoma City.
During the raid, the USS Hanson entered Haiphong Harbor to suppress hostile shore batteries while enabling other United States Navy forces to mine the Haiphong Harbor entrance. This made the USS Hanson the last American warship to enter Haiphong Harbor during the Vietnam War and the last one out.
