Lieutenant Colonel Hensley was a veteran of World War II. He led his B-29 Superfortress from the Marianas to northern Japan on the longest bombing mission during World War II, 4,400 miles. During the Korean War he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. On 10 May 1951 he was in a Thunderbolt jet aircraft on a practice mission, when his engine flamed out and the aircraft crashed near Cleveland, Texas.

Hensley was awarded the Asia Pacific Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.