Iowan faces loss of citizenship for actions in World War Two

An elderly man who’s lived in central Iowa for decades reportedly led a much different life before arriving here after World War Two. John Hansl emigrated to the U.S. in 1955 and, like many German descendants, settled in Iowa. He’s lived in Des Moines more than 40 years but now is facing deportation. Hansl was drafted by the Nazi S.S. during the war and served as a guard in a concentration camp. The 78-year-old says he told all on his visa application and has documents proving he was cleared by French and U.S. war tribunals in the late ’40s. Federal authorities claim Hansl hid key portions of his military past. The Justice Department filed a complaint Thursday in Federal Court to have Hansl’s citizenship revoked. He says he did nothing wrong and has long considered himself an American.