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First Name: Robert

Last Name: Henry

Birthplace: Greenville, MS, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Greenville, MS
Middle Name: T.



Date of Birth: 27 November 1923

Date of Death: 03 December 1944

Rank: Private

Years Served: 1943 - 1944
Robert T. Henry

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Robert T. Henry
Private, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Private Robert T. Henry (27 November 1923 - 3 December 1944) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Robert T. Henry was born on 27 November 1923 in Greenville, MS, and also joined the Army from that city. On 3 December 1944, he 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.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

Place and date: Luchem, Germany, 3 December 1944.

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.

Honors

The Henry Kaserne in Munich was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Private Robert T. Henry was killed in action on 3 December 1944. He is buried at Greenville Cemetery in his hometown of Greenville, MS.



Honoree ID: 1442   Created by: MHOH

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