World War II Honoree

Hugh J. Hendrickson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Scott Hendrickson

Relationship

Son

HE ORIGINALLY ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN 1936 BUT WAS SELECTED TO ATTEND OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA IN 1942. UPON COMPLETION OF OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE PARATROOPERS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. HE COMPLETED HIS PARACHUTE TRAINING AT TOCCOA, GEORGIA IN 1943. HE WAS THEN SHIPPED OFF TO ENGLAND IN JANUARY 1944 FOR ADDITIONAL COMBAT TRAINING. HE MISSED THE NORMANDY INVASION ON JUNE 6, 1944 DUE TO AN INJURY HE SUSTAINED TO HIS LEG IN TRAINING BUT RECOVERED IN TIME TO MAKE THE JUMP INTO HOLLAND ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944. HE ALSO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN DECEMBER 1944. HIS AWARDS INCLUDE THE U.S. ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD AND THREE CAMPAIGN STARS DEVICES, TWO PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIUM CROIX DE GUERRE AND FOURRAGERE, AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD. AFTER THE WAR HE REMAINED IN THE ARMY AND SERVED IN KOREA WITH THE 187TH INFANTRY REGIMENT.