This is Senior Airman James Arthur Hansen. James was the only soldier that died in Iraq. Tragically he was killed when a piece of shrapnel pierced through his chest and out his side. He was observing a the second of a five controlled demolitions. These demolitions were not performed by the civil Engineering commander. The report indicated that several safety procedures were not followed which was very upsetting for all that new the Hansen family. It is very hard to understand why such reckless behavior was allowed to go on and the cost was the life of James. James joined the military to follow in his fathers foot steps. He was also going to school and had only two or three classes to go before getting his college degree in Public Communications. James was from Athens, Michigan. He died on 9/15/2010 at the age of 25.
James portrait can be seen Sept.21 through Oct. 9 at the Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus atrium during Art Prize 2011. It is a watercolor pencil painting on canvas.
