Robert T. Henry

Infobox Military Person
name=Robert T. Henry
born=birth date|1923|11|27
died=death date and age|1944|12|3|1923|11|27
placeofbirth=Greenville, Mississippi
placeofdeath=Luchem, Germany
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Private
commands=
unit=16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Robert T. Henry (November 27 1923 – December 3 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography

Henry joined the Army from his birth place of Greenville, Mississippi, and by December 3 1944 was serving as a private in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On that day, at Luchem, Germany, he single-handedly charged a German machine gun nest which was preventing the advance of his platoon. Although he was killed before reaching the nest, his attack provided a distraction which enabled his comrades to destroy the position. For this action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on June 12 1945.

Henry, aged 21 at his death, was buried at Greenville Cemetery in his hometown of Greenville, Mississippi.

Medal of Honor citation

Private Henry's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*findagrave|7658239 Retrieved on 2008-01-30

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (G-L)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16 2007
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html
accessdate = 2008-01-30

Persondata
NAME= Henry, Robert T.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=