Private Robert T. Henry was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on December 3, 1944 in Luchem, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Henry was 21 years old.
Henry was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Henry was born on November 27, 1923 in Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi. He is buried at Greenville Cemetery in Greenville, Mississippi.
Henry is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 18 credited to Mississippi.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Near Luchem, Germany, he volunteered to attempt the destruction of a nest of five enemy machine guns 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 machine-gun fire. Dropping his rifle, he continued to stagger forward until he fell mortally wounded only 10 yards from the enemy emplacement. His singlehanded attack forced the enemy to leave the machine guns. 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Before he had gone half the distance he was hit by a burst of machine-gun fire.
Dropping his rifle, he continued to stagger forward until he fell mortally wounded only 10 yards from the enemy emplacement.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (December 3, 1944).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Greenville Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Mississippi →
Timeline
- November 27, 1923Born in Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi
- December 3, 1944Act of valor — Luchem, GermanyAge 21. 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeGreenville CemeteryGreenville, Mississippi
Biography
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.
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