World War II Honoree

Arthur J. 'Pete' Henson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Orofino, Idaho

Honored By

Lori Ann Henson Januszewski

Relationship

Daughter

VOLUNTEERED FOR THE DRAFT IN 1943 WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND CHOSE THE NAVY AS HIS PREFERRED BRANCH OF SERVICE. BEING ONLY 17 YEARS OF AGE, HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY ON OCTOBER 2, 1943 TO ENTER THE SERVICE. HE WAS SENT TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR BASIC TRAINING, THEN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS FOR ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING, WHERE HE TRAINED TO BE A BALL-TURRET GUNNER AND BECAME A MEMBER OF SQUADRON VPB-26. HE LOGGED OVER 600 FLIGHT HOURS IN A PBM (PATROL BOMBER). HE SERVED 2 YEARS, 7 MONTHS, AND 4 DAYS BEFORE BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR ENDED with the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman (Combat Aircrewman) 2nd Class Petty Officer. HIS SQUADRON VPB-26 landed in Iwo Jima and FLEW THE FILM OF THE PHOTO OF THE RAISING OF THE FLAG TO SAIPAN, WHERE IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE WORLD.