Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 17 September 1944 in Nijmegen, Holland. Staff Sergeant Henderson was platoon sergeant of the 2nd Platoon, Company A, 508th Parachute Infantry, and while on patrol in the city of Nijmegen killed two Germans in hand-to-hand fighting and bayoneted four others. He led his patrol in the accomplishment of three separate missions during the attack by his battalion, during which time he personally destroyed four enemy machine gun positions and assisted in the capture of six prisoners. When the point of the battalion advance became pinned down by enemy machine gun fire in the city of Nijmegen, Staff Sergeant Henderson led a squad from the advance guard and pushed forward, destroying the enemy position. He attacked a circular plaza to his front and cleared it of enemy. Later, at the bridge, he personally destroyed two machine gun positions and caused the crew of the third to withdraw. During this attack he was killed by enemy fire. The gallant and courageous actions of Staff Sergeant Henderson contributed greatly to the destruction of enemy resistance within the city and rendered a most vital and distinguished service in the accomplishment of the division mission. The conduct of Staff Sergeant Henderson reflects the finest traditions of the United States Army."

Awarded posthumously