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Rear Admiral Charles J. Hanks

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Charles Jerold Hanks is from Clearville, Pa., and graduated from Uniontown Senior High School, Uniontown, Pa., in 1937.  He earned a B.S. Degree from Pennsylvania State College at Shippensburg in 1942, an M.S. Degree from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1949, and Ed.D. Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1954.

During World War II, he attended Officer Candidate School at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., entering on June 30, 1942 and graduating with a commission of Ensign in the Reserve on October 28, 1942.  His first assignment was Commanding Officer of the 83-foot patrol cutter CG-83363 on sub hunting duty out of Charleston, S.C.  From 1943 to 1944, he served as Instructor in Anti-Submarine Warfare at the Advanced Frigate School, St. Augustine, Fla.  For the remainder of the war he commended the Freight Supply Ship FS-194 in the South Pacific.

After returning to civilian life in 1946, he was employed as Asst. Professor of Mathematics and as Asst. Football Coach at Drexel Institute of Technology at Philadelphia until 1950.  He then returned to the University of Arkansas to hold the position of Head Football Line Coach until 1954.  At that time he switched to California State Polytechnic College, San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he first undertook the positions of Professor of Mathematics and Golf Coach until 1971, and in 1972 assumed his present duties as Head of the Department of Mathematics.

Retaining a commission in the Coast Guard Reserve, meanwhile, Hanks served as Executive Officer of the Organized Reserve Training Unit ORTU 12-82820 at Monterey, Calif. from 1956 to 1957.  He commanded ORTU 12-82825 at San Luis Obispo from 1958 to 1966, the Organized Reserve Port Security Unit ORPSU 12-88889 at San Francisco from 1966 to 1969, when he assumed his present command of Voluntary Training Unit VTU (COMPOSITE) 12-88388.  He rose to rank of Captain in 1964.

He served special summer assignments as Director of the 12th Coast Guard District Reserve Training School, Alameda, Calif., from 1960 to 1963, and as Director of the Western Districts Reserve Training School at Alameda from 1965 to 1971.  For services in the latter assignment he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Coast Guard Commendation Medal as well as the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.  He received the Meritorious Service Medal for services as the Chief, Western Districts Reserve Division and Director, Western Districts Reserve Summer Training School at Alameda during the summers of 1970 and 1971.

By nomination of the President on March 22, 1972, and approval of the Senate, Captain Hanks was appointed a flag officer in the Coast Guard Reserve to rank as Rear Admiral from May 25, 1972.

RADM Hanks' World War II campaign medals and ribbons include the following: American Area, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Liberation, World War II Victory, Armed Forces Reserve Medal.  He also has the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Coast Guard Commendation Medal (1968), and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (1968), the Meritorious Service Medal (Dec. 29, 1971).

Other data

As a student he made Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, served as President, Student Council, captained a football team, and served as President of the Phi Sigma Pi, National Honorary Fraternity.

He holds memberships in the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, Kappa Mu Epsilon Fraternity, American Mathematical Society, and the Reserve Officers Association.

RADM Hanks' wife is the former Marjorie L. Keck of Harrisburg, Pa., whom he met at Pennsylvania State College at Shippensburg; they were married in 1943.  They have no children. 

RADM Hanks is the son of the late Mr. William M. Hanks and Mrs. Judy I. Hanks.

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