World War II Honoree

James Richard Hendrix

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lepanto, Arkansas

Honored By

Joe McFerran, U.S. Army, WWII

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES R. HENDRIX, PRIVATE IN U.S. ARMY, COMPANY C, 53RD ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 4TH ARMORED DIVISION. BORN AND ENTERED SERVICE AT LEPANTO, ARKANSAS. MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION: ON THE NIGHT OF 26 DECEMBER 1944, NEAR ASSENOIS, BELGIUM, HE WAS WITH THE LEADING ELEMENT ENGAGED IN THE FINAL THRUST TO BREAK THROUGH TO THE BESIEGED GARRISON AT BASTOGNE WHEN HALTED BY A FIERCE COMBINATION OF ARTILLERY AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. HE DISMOUNTED FROM HIS HALF-TRACK AND ADVANCED AGAINST TWO 88MM. GUNS, AND, BY THE FEROCITY OF HIS RIFLE FIRE, COMPELLED THE GUN CREWS TO TAKE COVER AND THEN TO SURRENDER. LATER IN THE ATTACK HE AGAIN LEFT HIS VEHICLE, VOLUNTARILY, TO AID 2 WOUNDED SOLDIERS, HELPLESS AND EXPOSED TO INTENSE MACHINE GUN FIRE. EFFECTIVELY SILENCING 2 HOSTILE MACHINE GUNS, HE HELD OFF THE ENEMY BY HIS OWN FIRE UNTIL THE WOUNDED MEN WERE EVACUATED. PRIVATE HENDRX AGAIN DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHEN HE HASTENED TO THE AID OF STILL ANOTHER SOLDIER WHO WAS TRAPPED IN A BURNING HALF-TRACK. BRAVING ENEMY SNIPER FIRE AND EXPLODING MINES AND AMMUNITION IN THE VEHICLE, HE EXTRICATED THE WOUNDED MAN AND EXTINGUISHED HIS FLAMING CLOTHING, THEREBY SAVING THE LIFE OF HIS FELLOW SOLDIER. PRIVATE HENDRIX, BY HIS SUPERB COURAGE AND HEROISM, EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE.