Veteran Tells His Story About WWII - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Veterans Day is this weekend, but some celebrations are already underway to honor the ones who've protected our country.

On Friday in Bismarck, Trademark held a service for their residents that are Veterans, and one Vet remembers World War Two, like it was yesterday.

Dozens of residents gather in the Chapel at Touchmark in Bismarck, to listen to speakers and music.

One of those residents is 93-year-old World War Two Veteran, Louis Hanson.

"We were the first Army troops in action, on the offensive in World War Two," Louis Hanson said.

Hanson served in the 164th Infantry from North Dakota he volunteered for the draft and was one of the first ones drafted from LaMoure County.

"We were the only unit from World War Two that got the Presidential Unit Citation," Hanson said.

That Citation was well earned, Hanson spent more than three years protecting the nation.

"Three and half years and five days, I forgot the hours and minutes," Hanson said.

Six months of his time was spent on Guadalcanal, where he became very sick.

"When I went in there I weighed 132 pounds, and when we finally got relieved I was down to 99 pounds, of course I had malaria many times I had yellow jaundice," Hanson said.

While serving in World War Two, Hanson had a close call, nearly losing his life.

"I had a mosquito net by the liner on my helmet so it raised it up about that much farther, and I had a hole shot right through my helmet, I think that mosquito net saved my life," Hanson said.

And through all the hell, he regrets, none of it.

"I wouldn't trade my I wouldn't trade it for a million dollars, for what I went through," Hanson said.

Around 20 other Veterans who live at Touchmark also attended Friday's ceremony.