World War II Honoree

James R. Hendrix

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lepanto, Arkansas

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE, U.S. ARMY, COMPANY C, 53RD ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 4TH ARMORED DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: NEAR ASSENOIS, BELGIUM, DECEMBER 26, 1944. ENTERED SERVICE AT: LEPANTO, ARKANSAS. BIRTH: LEPANTO, ARKANSAS. GO 74, SEPTEMBER 1, 1945. CITATION: 'ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 26, 1944, NEAR ASSENOIS, BELGIUM, HE WAS WITH THE LEADING ELEMENT ENGAGED IN THE FINAL THRUST TO BREAK THROUGH TO THE BESIEGED GARRISON AT BASTOGNE WHEN HALTED BY A FIERCE COMBINATION OF ARTILLERY AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. HE DISMOUNTED FROM HIS HALF-TRACK AND ADVANCED AGAINST TWO 88MM. GUNS, AND, BY THE FEROCITY OF HIS RIFLE FIRE, COMPELLED THE GUN CREWS TO TAKE COVER AND THEN TO SURRENDER. LATER IN THE ATTACK HE AGAIN LEFT HIS VEHICLE, VOLUNTARILY, TO AID 2 WOUNDED SOLDIERS, HELPLESS AND EXPOSED TO INTENSE MACHINE GUN FIRE. EFFECTIVELY SILENCING 2 HOSTILE MACHINE GUNS, HE HELD OFF THE ENEMY BY HIS OWN FIRE UNTIL THE WOUNDED MEN WERE EVACUATED. PRIVATE HENDRIX AGAIN DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHEN HE HASTENED TO THE AID OF STILL ANOTHER SOLDIER WHO WAS TRAPPED IN A BURNING HALF-TRACK. BRAVING ENEMY SNIPER FIRE AND EXPLODING MINES AND AMMUNITION IN THE VEHICLE, HE EXTRICATED THE WOUNDED MAN AND EXTINGUISHED HIS FLAMING CLOTHING, THEREBY SAVING THE LIFE OF HIS FELLOW SOLDIER. PRIVATE HENDRIX, BY HIS SUPERB COURAGE AND HEROISM, EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE.'