World War II Honoree

Harry Henke

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Illinois

Honored By

Diane Gilbert

Relationship

Friend

ENTERED THE NAVY IN 1942 IN FLIGHT TRAINING TO BECOME A NAVAL AVIATOR. IN 1943 TRANSFERRED TO THE MARINE CORPS AND TRAINED IN F4U CORSAIR AS A FIGHTER PILOT. AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING I WAS TRANSFERRED TO VMF-122 A SQUADRON OF CORSAIRS BASED ON PELELIU IN THE PALAU ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC. THIS IS WHERE THE BATTLE BLOODY NOSE RIDGE TOOK PLACE ONE OF THE MARINE CORPS MAJOR BUT COSTLY WOUNDS EARLY IN THE WAR. I SERVED ON PELELIU UNTIL 1945 WHEN WAR ENDED. AFTER RETURNING HOME, SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR ABOUT FIVE MORE YEARS, LEFT THE CORPS AS A CAPTAIN. RECEIVED SEVERAL AIR MEDALS FOR MISSIONS FLEW.