World War II Honoree

Harry A. Henderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

William Staudenmaier

Relationship

Friend

ACTIVE DUTY FROM JUNE 1941 T0 OCTOBER 23, 1945. STARTED AS A 521 BASIC RIFLEMAN AND ROSE TO 1ST SERGEANT OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 415TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 104TH TIMBERWOLF DIVISION. HELPED DRIVE THE GERMANS FROM HOLLAND, CAPTURED MAJOR GERMAN CITIES OF AACHEN, AND COLOGNE AND CROSSED THE REMAGEN BRIDGE HEAD. JOINED 3RD ARMORED DIVISION IN THE RACE TO BERLIN. WAS ONE OF 15 ENLISTED PERSONNEL WITH ENOUGH POINTS TO BE FLOWN HOME FOR DISCHARGE, BUT WAS DELAYED FOR 4 MONTHS IN WOLFEN, GERMANY TO DEVELOP THE 1ST GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR DISCHARGE CENTER. SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCES WANTED TO GET ALL THE FARMERS AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS BACK INTO CIVILIAN SOCIETY TO ESCALATE THE GERMAN ECONOMY. UNIT SERVED 195 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN COMBAT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. RECEIVED BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS.