World War II Honoree

Luther Albert Henderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Otero County, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. On March 27, 1941, he entered the United States Army at Alamogordo, New Mexico. Deployed to the Philippine Islands, Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, serving with Golf Battery a subordinate unit of the 515th Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. Assigned to a Provisional Infantry Company, he participated in the Battle of the Philippine Islands, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces. While his unit was retreating to the Bataan Peninsula in the Battle of Bataan (Battle Dates: January 7-April 9, 1942), the Japanese forces captured him on the last day of the battle. His captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #4 O’Donnell Tarlac, Luzon. Reported missing in action Friday, May 1, 1942, on the 22nd day of his incarceration. In remembrance of the Brave, his name is recorded in the Tablets of the Missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery located at Fort Bonifacio, in Manila, Philippine Islands. His name is also, carved on one of the twelve granite columns at the Bataan Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.