Commander Hank Mense Coast Guard Oral History Project
The Commander Hank Mense Coast Guard Oral History Project is named in memory of the late Louis Henry “Hank” Mense, a retired commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. A Wisconsin native and longtime resident of Myrtle Beach, Mense served 23 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring at the rank of commander after three commands at sea. He was a founding adviser of the United Bank Center for Military and Veteran Studies.
The Commander Hank Mense Coast Guard Oral History Project supports the full mission of the United Bank Center for Military and Veteran Studies, including the preservation of oral history with veterans of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Contact Us
- Rod Gragg, Director
Coastal Science Center 110
843-234-3431
rgragg@coastal.edu - Coastal Carolina University
P.O. Box 261954
Conway, S.C. 29528-6054
Mense joined Coastal Carolina’s administrative staff in 1978, serving as associate director of records, associate director of registration and associate director of admissions. He provided leadership in a variety of advisory roles and has been instrumental in fundraising efforts as well; he was a member of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration board of visitors and served on the Coastal Educational Foundation.
In 2010, Mense was named a CCU honorary founder for his roles in the development of the University and the promotion of higher education in the region. In addition, in 2016 the campus building that houses CCU's ROTC program was named the Cmdr. Louis “Hank” Mense Hall. (Pictured are the late “Hank” Mense (center) with Sara Jane Mense, Lucille Mense, 1st Lt. Hunter Mense and Drew Carlisle.)
Mense was the president of Emenson LLC, an ownership/management company for warehouse storage facilities serving the Grand Strand area. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.