David Hill Henry Jr.
Commanding Officer
Company A 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry
4th Infantry Division
KIA 07/11/1944
David H. Henry Jr. was born in
Pickens County, South Carolina on July 22, 1915.
His religion was listed as Protestant.
The date of his assignment to
the 22nd Infantry is unknown. According to an entry on the
Clemson University
website he entered active duty service in January 1942. That may
be the date he was assigned to the 22nd Infantry.
He was with the Regiment at least by 1943 serving in the capacity
of Regimental Adjutant.
Above: The signature of
David H. Henry as a 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant on General Orders
No. 3
of Headquarters Combat Team 22 at Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida
dated October 15, 1943.
Courtesy of John Tomawski
He was assigned to Company A from Regimental Headquarters on July 10, 1944.
David H. Henry Jr. was killed in action in France in the vicinity of La Maugerie on July 11, 1944.
His promotion to Captain was most likely posthumous.
The following is from the Clemson University Alumni website:
David Hill Henry Jr.
War: World War II
Class: 1936
Major: Textile Engineering
Activities while at Clemson: Cadet Sergeant, Second Lieutenant;
Chairman Planing Commission ; Central Dance Association 4;
Alpha Chi Psi 1,2 3,4; President 4; ROTC Camp McClellan Alabama;
Tiger Brotherhood
Home Town: Clemson, South Carolina
Service: US Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry
Division
Date of Death: July 11, 1944
Details of Death: Killed in Action
Awards / Citations: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat
Infantryman Badge
Personal remembrances and tributes:
The following is based on a conversation with Albert M. Henry,
Davids younger brother and various newspaper articles:
David had a very outgoing personality and was well
liked. He was an outstanding athlete in many sports. He and his
friend,
Carl McHugh, enjoyed playing at Boscobel Golf Course. He was
actively involved in student activities at Clemson and
graduated in Textile Engineering in 1936 and received an ROTC
Commission. He worked for Union Bleachery in Greenville
before being called into service in January 1942. He was in the
Infantry and went overseas in January 1943. He participated
in the invasion at Normandy, France June 6, 1944. He was promoted
to Captain shortly before his death on July 11, 1944.
My other brother, Rufus, who also attended Clemson, was a Flight
Engineer on a B-29 and was also killed in action in China.
Albert Henry, the youngest brother, also served in WW II (1943
-46). He was being deployed overseas when he received
notification of Rufus death. Deployment orders were
rescinded because the Henry Family had already lost two sons in
the war.
Albert remained in the States for the duration of his service.
Currently he resides in Clemson, SC. ¹
(Website editor: The date of
David Henry's deployment overseas listed above is incorrect.
David went overseas with
the 22nd Infantry in January 1944.)
In the 1936 Clemson yearbook the
entry for David Henry gave his nicknames as "Duck" or
Squat."
That same entry also had the following :
"Love for one, friendship for a few, and respect for many."
¹
David H. Henry in ROTC at Clemson ¹
David Henry's decorations
David H. Henry was buried in the
temporary U.S. Military Cemetery
Sainte Mere-Eglise #2 at Carentan, France in Block J Row 4 Grave
69 and was moved to the permanent
cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, most likely in 1948 when the
temporary cemeteries were shut down.
Burial:
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
Colleville-sur-Mer
Departement du Calvados
Basse-Normandie, France
Plot D Row 7 Grave 37
Grave marker for David H. Henry Jr.
Photo by virginie macagno from the Find A Grave website maintained by: robin pellicci moore
Memorial for David H. Henry Jr. at Old Stone Church Cemetery in Clemson, South Carolina.
Photo by David Lyle from the Find A Grave website maintained by: robin pellicci moore
Top photo of David Henry as a Lieutenant in the 22nd Infantry from
¹ Clemson University Alumni website
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