World War II Honoree

Neil J. Henderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

White Plains, New York

Honored By

Cheryl Henderson Brill & Deborah Maher

Relationship

Daughters

ENLISTED INTO THE NAVY ON MARCH 25, 1943. WENT THROUGH BOOT CAMP AND NAVY COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL AT SAMPSON NAVAL TRAINING STATION. AFTER SCHOOL WAS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. NAVAL ARMORY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. AFTER TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA, WENT ON TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE ARMED GUARD CENTER, TREASURE ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO FOR SHIP ASSIGNMENT. DURING HIS TIME IN THE NAVY HE WAS ASSIGNED TO 2 LIBERTY SHIPS, JOSEPH SIMON AND JAMES OLIVER AND A VICTORY SHIP, THE BRITAIN VICTORY, AS A RADIOMAN. ON HIS JOURNEYS HE MADE SEVERAL VISITS TO PEARL HARBOR, MADE PORT IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, WAS IN GUAM ON D-DAY, VISITED AUSTRALIA AND CROSSED OVER THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, AND ALSO VISITED NEW GUINEA AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE PHILIPPINES. ALSO FLEW AS A CREW MEMBER ON A B-29. DISCHARGED ON MARCH 29, 1946. MEDALS RECEIVED INCLUDE THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL FOR WWII AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FROM THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.