World War II Honoree

Douglas Fairbanks 'Doug' Hensley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fairview, Oklahoma

Honored By

Ruby Hensley

Relationship

Wife

INDUCTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE ON JANUARY 14, 1943. ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON JANUARY 21, 1943 AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. SERVED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FROM JANUARY 21, 1943 TO FEBRUARY 27, 1944 WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. SAILED OVERSEAS FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON FEBRUARY 27, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON MARCH 6, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY A, 937TH ENGINEER AVIATION CAMOUFLAGE BATTALION. LANDED AT NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 27, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN CAMPAIGNS. DEPARTED EUROPE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1945 AND ARRIVED IN THE U.S. ON DECEMBER 8, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. RECEIVED A LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMAN FOR ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVICE AND FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THE WAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AT CAMP CHAFFEE, FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS ON DECEMBER 15, 1945 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.