World War II Honoree

Ralph 'Huck' Henson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cisne, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF FIELD LINEMAN (641). ASSIGNED TO BATTERY C, 113TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 30TH INFANTRY ‘OLD HICKORY’ DIVISION AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. TRAINED FOR COMBAT THERE AND AT VARIOUS OTHER U.S. LOCATIONS. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED COMBAT VIA THE OMAHA BEACHHEAD ON JUNE 15, 1944 AND FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL IN FRANCE, BUT ABLE TO CONTINUE DUTIES. PRESENTED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL BY BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES M. LEWIS IN A FIELD AWARDS CEREMONY AT POSSNECK, GERMANY. ALSO EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE ON OCTOBER 21, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.