World War II Honoree

John Hugo Henning

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

Roger J. Henning, PhD & Nanci Pyle

Relationship

Son & Daughter

HE SERVED WITH THE 12TH ARMORED DIVISION (HELLCATS), 714TH TANK BATTALION, D COMPANY FROM ITS INCEPTION ON 15 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY. FOLLOWING TRAINING AND MANEUVERS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE, THE DIVISION MOVED TO CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS, NEAR ABILENE IN DECEMBER 1943. THEY MOVED TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK AND SAILED FOR ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER. FIVE WEEKS LATER, THE 12TH CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE AND WENT ON TO ASSEMBLE NEAR AUFFAY, FRANCE FOR THE PUSH TO GERMANY. AFTER CROSSING FRANCE AND FINDING THE GERMANS HAD DESTROYED ALL THE BRIDGES, 2 PONTOON BRIDGES WERE ERECTED NEAR WORMS AND THE 12TH CROSSED THE RHINE ON 28 MARCH 1945. THEY CROSSED THE AUSTRIAN BORDER AT KUFSTEIN, AUSTRIA IN MAY 1945. THE 12TH WAS PULLED FROM THE FRONT LINES MAY 1945. THE 12TH ARMORED DIVISION WAS SINGLED OUT FOR COMMENDATION FROM 7TH ARMY, 3RD ARMY, FRENCH FIRST ARMY AND EVERY CORPS UNDER WHICH IT OPERATED.