World War II Honoree

Donald J. Henning

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mohall, North Dakota

Honored By

Russell Henning

Relationship

Son

HE ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY ON APRIL 22, 1943 AT FT. SNELLING, MINNESOTA. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO EUROPE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE D-DAY INVASION WHERE HE LANDED AT NORMANDY IN THE THIRD WAVE OF INVASION. HE LATER JOINED THE 328TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 26TH INFANTRY DIVISION AS A PART OF GENERAL PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS OR BATTLES; NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HE WAS AWARDED TWO OVERSEAS BARS, FIVE BRONZE STARS, AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR A WOUND RECEIVED CHRISTMAS EVE 1944 IN THE ARDENNES FOREST. LATER HE WAS RETURNED THE U.S. TO BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR AT CAMP WOLTERS, TEXAS. HE TRAINED RECRUITS IN USE OF INFANTRY WEAPONS SUCH AS RIFLE, CARBINE, 60MM MORTAR, AND LIGHT MACHINE GUN. HE ALSO TAUGHT THE USE OF CAMOUFLAGE, ORIENTEERING, AND FIRST AID. HE WAS DISCHARGED OCTOBER 12, 1945.