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Machinist's Mate Second Class · U.S. Navy

George Francis Henrechon

Machinist's Mate Second Class George Francis Henrechon, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 24, 1911 near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands during the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines.

Action Against Outlaws, Philippines 1911 September 24, 1911

Machinist's Mate Second Class George Francis Henrechon, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 24, 1911 near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands during the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pampanga. Henrechon was 25 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 1912.

Henrechon was born on November 22, 1885 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to California. Henrechon died on August 16, 1929 in Connecticut, at the age of 43. He is buried at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Henrechon is one of 6 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines and one of 142 credited to California.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While attached to the U.S.S. Pampang, Henrechon was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, on the island of Basilan, P.I., 24 September 1911. Ordered to take station within 100 yards of a group of nipa huts close to the trail, Henrechon advanced and stood guard as the leader, and his scout party first searched the surrounding deep grasses, then moved into the open area before the huts. Instantly enemy Moros opened point-blank fire on the exposed men and approximately 20 Moros rushed the small group from inside the huts and from other concealed positions. Henrechon, responding to the calls for help, was one of the first on the scene. With his rifle jammed after the first shot, he closed in with rifle, using it as a club to break the stock over the head of the nearest Moro and then, drawing his pistol, started in pursuit of the fleeing outlaws. Henrechon's aggressive charging of the enemy under heavy fire and in the face of great odds contributed materially to the success of the engagement.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. November 22, 1885
    Born in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
  2. September 24, 1911
    Act of valor — near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands
    Age 25. U.S.S. Pampanga
  3. January 1912
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 16, 1929
    Died in Connecticut
    Age 43.
  5. Resting place
    Mount St. Benedict Cemetery
    Bloomfield, Connecticut

Further reading

Also honored for actions on September 24, 1911

JC John Hugh Catherwood Ordinary Seaman · Navy Philippines 1911 · 1911 BH Bolden Reush Harrison Seaman · Navy Philippines 1911 · 1911 Fred Henry McGuire Hospital Apprentice · Navy Philippines 1911 · 1911 JN Jose B. Nisperos Private · Army Philippines 1911 · 1911 JV Jacob Volz Carpenter's Mate Third Class · Navy Philippines 1911 · 1911

Same unit

JF Joseph Fitz Ordinary Seaman · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1906 AF Andrew Peter Forbeck Seaman · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1900 WT William George Thordsen Coxswain · Navy Philippine Insurrection · 1900
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.