World War II Honoree

Ralph Ernest Henry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hartselle, Alabama

Honored By

David P. Norton

STAFF SERGEANT. HE ENTERED THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON NOVEMBER 25, 1942. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE AND WAS STATIONED IN ITALY. COMBAT ENGAGEMENTS OVER SOUTHERN FRANCE, THE BALKANS, ROME-ARNO, NORMANDY, RHINELAND AND NORTHERN APENNINES. SHOT DOWN OVER AUSTRIA ON HIS 50TH AIR COMBAT MISSION ON DECEMBER 9, 1944. CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS AND HELD AS A POW UNTIL LIBERATED IN MAY 1945. DISCHARGED FROM AIR CORPS SERVICE IN LATE 1945. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. HE SERVED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES FOR 34 MONTHS.