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Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry
Division. Place and date: Luchem, Germany, 3 December 1944.
Entered Service at:
Greenville, Miss. Birth: Greenville, Miss. G.O. No.: 45, 12 June 1945.
Citation: Near Luchem, Germany, he volunteered to attempt the destruction
of a nest of 5 enemy machineguns located in a bunker 150 yards to the flank
which had stopped the advance of his platoon. Stripping off his pack, overshoes,
helmet, and overcoat, he sprinted alone with his rifle and hand grenades
across the open terrain toward the enemy emplacement. Before he had gone
half the distance he was hit by a burst of machinegun fire. Dropping his
rifle, he continued to stagger forward until he fell mortally wounded only
10 yards from the enemy emplacement. His single-handed attack forced the
enemy to leave the machineguns. During this break in hostile fire the platoon
moved forward and overran the position. Pvt. Henry, by his gallantry and
intrepidity and utter disregard for his own life, enabled his company to
reach its objective, capturing this key defense and 70 German prisoners.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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