World War II Honoree

Josiah 'Joe' Henson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

APPOINTED TO THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND AND GRADUATED ON JUNE 7, 1944 WITH THE WAR-ACCELERATED CLASS OF 1945. COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN AND RECEIVED A SHORT AVIATION INDOCTRINATION AT NAVAL AIR STATION (NAS), JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THEN REPORTED AS A GUNNERY OFFICER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44) WITH THE 7TH FLEET IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION AT LEYTE GULF IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL MACARTHUR'S RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN OCTOBER, 1944. THEN, TOOK PART IN THE NAVAL BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIT ON OCTOBER 25, 1944. HIS SHIP WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SHIPS TO BE ATTACKED BY JAPANESE 'KAMIKAZE' SUICIDE AIRCRAFT DURING THE NAVAL BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, AND WAS CREDITED WITH SINKING A JAPANESE CRUISER. NEXT, HIS SHIP SUPPORTED OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS IN 1945. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, HE WAS DETACHED FROM SEA DUTY AND SENT TO FLIGHT TRAINING AT NAS, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS AND NAS, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. UPON GRADUATION, WAS AWARDED HIS GOLD NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.