Lawrence

Sorrells Funeral Home

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Posted by: Sorrells Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-347-9598
Date: Mar 17 2022 11:52 AM

Lawrence “Larry” Hanna of Enterprise, Alabama, passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the age of 77.

           

Celebration of Life will be at TriState Gun Club April 3, 2022 starting at 10:00 am and visitation with the family will be until 1:00 pm with lunch served at 11:00 am. There will be a memorial service at his final resting place in Minerva, Ohio announced at a later date.

 

Larry was born December 15, 1944 in Minerva, Ohio, to the late Vic and Kay Swank Hanna.  After high school, he attended Embry Aeronautical University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics and Associate Science Degree in Aviation Management.  He entered the U.S. Army in 1965, completed his basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, 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, Larry was stationed in Savannah, Georgia, 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 he returned to 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 to Cameron Station, Virginia, with the U.S. Army Aeronautical Services Office, Larry served on the tri-service committee to redesign the Flight Plan, Department of Defense Form 175.  At his last duty station in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, he was the Operations Officer for the largest VIP support unit in the U.S. Army, which served the Army’s senior leadership, Dept. 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 Saudi Arabia to support the Patriot Missile Batteries of the Gulf War during Desert Strike and Desert Storm.

 

During his 28+ years in the military, Larry amassed over 12,000 hours in helicopters and airplanes and was an FAA certified flight instructor in both.  He also received the Legion of Merit and three Meritorious Service Medals for his service.

 

He retired from the Army in 1994 and was accepted into the Virginia State Police Academy.  He worked as a State Trooper out of Fairfax, Virginia for two years and then joined the Aviation Unit of Manassas, as a Trooper-Pilot for another six years, retiring in 2002

 

Larry moved to Enterprise, Alabama in 2002 and accepted a position as helicopter flight instructor with Lear Sigler Services at Ft. Rucker where he trained Army and allied foreign student pilots.  He was active in sports, mainly basketball, softball, soccer, and racquetball, and coached in those sports for many years as a way to fulfill his commitment to his community.  Additionally, he was heavily involved in the Tri-State Gun Club and the Ft. Rucker Gun Club.

 

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Janis Lowmiller Hanna; children, Sherri First of Enterprise, Alabama and Jeffrey Hanna (Jessica) of Powhatan, Virginia; grandson, Jacob Hanna; brother, James V. Hanna (Paula) of Minerva, Ohio; sister, Vicki Semich (Jim) of Mentor, Ohio; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

 

The family would like to thank Sherry, Tosha, Jamie, Kevin, and Jeneary from Southern Care Hospice for their love, care and support for Mr. Hanna.

 

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomeenterprise.com. 

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