Lt. Gil Hanley

Lt. Gilbert "Gil" Hanley commands second platoon, King Company, 361st Infantry Regiment. He is portrayed by Rick Jason.

Before the events of Combat! begin, Hanley is stationed in England, where he meets and befriends Sgt. Chip Saunders. The latter was recovering from wounds sustained in Italy, and would soon be assigned to Hanley's 361st. The two sergeants would often pair up for off-base recreation, though Hanley was not above pulling rank in handing undesirable or dull assignments to Saunders ("A Day in June").

While some of Saunders' military background is explained in the series, little is known about Hanley's Army career. Where Saunders is a combat veteran of the North African and Italian campaigns, nothing is said about whether Hanley had prior experience in the war.

When introduced in the pilot episode, Hanley is a Technical Sergeant when the 361st lands at Omaha Beach on D-Day. He is pressed into leadership when the platoon's lieutenant is killed in action. Hanley receives a field promotion and retains the rank of second lieutenant for the duration of the series.

A dry, debonair-looking man, Hanley has a more sophisticated background than his peers and subordinates. He attended college ("The Quiet Warrior"), recognizes Latin speech ("Lost Sheep, Lost Shepherd") and has some familiarity with art and sculpture ("Heritage"). He is also shown to be popular with women, especially before the events of Operation Overlord.

Virtually nothing is known about Hanley's family or pre-war life. He makes one reference to his father being well in the third-season episode "Billy the Kid."

Hanley is shown to be task-oriented. He understands orders from higher-ups strain Saunders and his men and even defy basic common sense, but he gives the orders and expects them to be fulfilled. His role as administrator sometimes taxes his relationship with Saunders, but both men remain friends and respect each other professionally.