World War II Honoree

Ruben Otis Henson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Lucille Henson Anderson

Relationship

Sister

DRAFTED INTO THE SERVICE ON AUGUST 5, 1943. AFTER BASIC TRAINING WAS ASSIGNED BRIEFLY TO THE 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION WHERE HE TRAINED AND WAS QUALIFIED AS AN INFANTRY RIFLEMAN. SHIPPED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN JUNE 1944, AS A REPLACEMENT. JOINED COMPANY F, 358TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 90TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION ON JULY 23, 1944 DURING THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE FAMILY RECEIVED A TELEGRAM INFORMING THEM THAT PRIVATE HENSON’S STATUS HAD CHANGED TO KILLED IN ACTION ON AN UNREPORTED DATE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT HE DIED SUPPORTING OPERATION OVERLORD OBJECTIVES IN THE VICINITY OF THE SEINE RIVER IN FRANCE. AWARDED A PURPLE HEART MEDAL POSTHUMOUSLY AND WAS ENTITLED TO THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. BURIED WITH HONORS AT ELMWOOD CEMETERY IN FLORA, ILLINOIS. ALSO HONORED FOR HIS SERVICE AT THE WWII MEMORIAL OF THAT CITY.