Lonnie R. Henderson
Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force

Lonnie R. Henderson began his military service with the Oklahoma Army National Guard from 1956-59 and then served with the US Air Force from 1959 until his retirement in 1986.

Henderson served in the Intelligence Field with the US Air Force Security Service / Electronic Security Command, as a Voice Processing Specialist and Airborne Cryptographic Linguist. He is a graduate of the Defense Language Institutes Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Intensive Russian Language courses and the Basic Vietnamese Language courses; he is also a qualified German Linguist.

He has over 1,000 hours in combat missions over various areas in Southeast Asia and over 5,000 hours in combat, and combat support roles, on C-130 and RE-135 Reconnaissance Aircraft. Lonnie also has several hours on Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft.

Lonnie served in Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, Panama and Vietnam. He participated in reconnaissance missions over the Baltic, Barents and White Seas in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas in Southern Europe, the Gulf of Tonkin and over Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, the Gulf of Mexico, against Grenada, and in various areas of Central America.

Medals and Awards

Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 18 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Grenada)
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Service Stars
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat Valor Device with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
AF NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
AF Small Arms Expert Markmanship Ribbon
Master Enlisted Air Crew Badge
Combat Air Crew Badge

MSgt Lonnie Henderson is the most decorated Comanche veteran. He earned 60 Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons.

This Honoree Record was prepared with the valuable assistance of Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.) [Honoree Record ID 227117], Historian for the Comanche Indian Veterans Association in Lawton, OK. Photo is courtesy of SMG Asepermy and the Comanche Nation Museum.