Hi, I am a little confused about the enlistment of my grandfather, Louis Hansen (aka Laust Fredrick Hansen). These are the facts that I have found documents for:

He immigrated to the US on August 20 of 1901.
His enlistment is June 30, 1901.
He was discharged April 30, 1903.
His headstone lists that he was in the Spanish American War as part of the 3rd Illinois Infantry, Company G.

I also know that the Spanish American War lasted from April-August 1898.


Here are the questions:

Why would he be credited with serving the Spanish American War if he didn't enlist until 2 years after it was done?

Was it common/possible that foriegn soldiers enlisted before immigrating?

Thanks,
Edith