Homer I. Henderson

I reported recently on several of our surviving WWII veterans and their contribution to the war effort. The Soldier presented today was one of the casualties of a battle all those Sailors supported. His name is Homer I. Henderson (1912-1945). He was 32 years old at the time he was killed, unusual for the physical demands of a lower rank WWII Infantry Soldier. But then Homer Henderson was rather unusual himself. Born second youngest of 8 children to Lige (1878- 1963) and Lilly Henderson (1878-1971) he worked as a teamster, logger, and oilfield roughneck. He never married, though his wartime letters indicated he planned to after the war. He was known as being funny and outgoing but had an affinity for beer which temporarily altered his outlook on life. John Rollins, a cousin who worked Texas oilfields with him related they often got into bar fights because they were Arkansans. He said he would cover his back and Homer would clean house with that bad left hook. Having been in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) he was adapted to Army life. It was told he was offered the rank of Sgt but refused. Company K, 381st Inf made 2 landings prior to Okinawa and the official documents I have researched indicate his platoon was the first to penetrate the entrenched Japanese on the 19th of April 1945. 

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