Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
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Loving husband of Geraldine Grace "Gerry" Meyers Allen.
At the beginning of World War II, Henry Harrison Allen, Jr. was attached as a civilian to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he assisted with construction of an Ordinance Plant. Following completion of construction, he transferred to the Armed Service Forces Ordinance Department, where he was employed as an Inspector and Special Investigator. Henry felt he was still not doing enough for the War effort, so at the maximum draft age, he volunteered for active duty with the Army, enlisting at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
Henry received basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, and earned the designation of Expert Rifleman. He was then assigned stateside to Company D of the 812th Tank Battalion, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. There, Henry learned to drive tanks and tank destroyers and then taught those skills to others (Tank Driver 1736). Due to declining health, he was discharged from active duty on 11 September 1945.
Henry was an exceptional man, but the qualities that made him so exceptional are difficult to put into writing. His grandchildren knew him as "Papa"... a cherished grandfather who was everything a wonderful Papa should be! He was honest, strong, and unyielding on his principles, but he communicated those principles in a way that inspired rather than criticized. He was not well-educated, but his intelligence was obvious to all who knew him. He had a quiet faith that spoke volumes. He had a way of being serious and funny at the same time. He had the most tremendous capacity to love completely, without requiring anything in return. He treated his wife, Gerry, as if she was the most precious thing on God's green earth, because to Henry that was exactly what she was. His grandchildren behaved better with him than anywhere else... not because he was harsh, but because they did not want to see him sad at their downfall. Henry's presence has been felt by his family many times in the years since he has gone. He is there in the quiet times of remembrance, he is there in the happy times that are familiar, he is there in the sad times when consolation is needed, and he is there in every hug. Henry is remembered, and he is missed.
----------
Loving husband of Geraldine Grace "Gerry" Meyers Allen.
At the beginning of World War II, Henry Harrison Allen, Jr. was attached as a civilian to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he assisted with construction of an Ordinance Plant. Following completion of construction, he transferred to the Armed Service Forces Ordinance Department, where he was employed as an Inspector and Special Investigator. Henry felt he was still not doing enough for the War effort, so at the maximum draft age, he volunteered for active duty with the Army, enlisting at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
Henry received basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, and earned the designation of Expert Rifleman. He was then assigned stateside to Company D of the 812th Tank Battalion, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. There, Henry learned to drive tanks and tank destroyers and then taught those skills to others (Tank Driver 1736). Due to declining health, he was discharged from active duty on 11 September 1945.
Henry was an exceptional man, but the qualities that made him so exceptional are difficult to put into writing. His grandchildren knew him as "Papa"... a cherished grandfather who was everything a wonderful Papa should be! He was honest, strong, and unyielding on his principles, but he communicated those principles in a way that inspired rather than criticized. He was not well-educated, but his intelligence was obvious to all who knew him. He had a quiet faith that spoke volumes. He had a way of being serious and funny at the same time. He had the most tremendous capacity to love completely, without requiring anything in return. He treated his wife, Gerry, as if she was the most precious thing on God's green earth, because to Henry that was exactly what she was. His grandchildren behaved better with him than anywhere else... not because he was harsh, but because they did not want to see him sad at their downfall. Henry's presence has been felt by his family many times in the years since he has gone. He is there in the quiet times of remembrance, he is there in the happy times that are familiar, he is there in the sad times when consolation is needed, and he is there in every hug. Henry is remembered, and he is missed.
Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
----------
Loving husband of Geraldine Grace "Gerry" Meyers Allen.
At the beginning of World War II, Henry Harrison Allen, Jr. was attached as a civilian to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he assisted with construction of an Ordinance Plant. Following completion of construction, he transferred to the Armed Service Forces Ordinance Department, where he was employed as an Inspector and Special Investigator. Henry felt he was still not doing enough for the War effort, so at the maximum draft age, he volunteered for active duty with the Army, enlisting at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
Henry received basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, and earned the designation of Expert Rifleman. He was then assigned stateside to Company D of the 812th Tank Battalion, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. There, Henry learned to drive tanks and tank destroyers and then taught those skills to others (Tank Driver 1736). Due to declining health, he was discharged from active duty on 11 September 1945.
Henry was an exceptional man, but the qualities that made him so exceptional are difficult to put into writing. His grandchildren knew him as "Papa"... a cherished grandfather who was everything a wonderful Papa should be! He was honest, strong, and unyielding on his principles, but he communicated those principles in a way that inspired rather than criticized. He was not well-educated, but his intelligence was obvious to all who knew him. He had a quiet faith that spoke volumes. He had a way of being serious and funny at the same time. He had the most tremendous capacity to love completely, without requiring anything in return. He treated his wife, Gerry, as if she was the most precious thing on God's green earth, because to Henry that was exactly what she was. His grandchildren behaved better with him than anywhere else... not because he was harsh, but because they did not want to see him sad at their downfall. Henry's presence has been felt by his family many times in the years since he has gone. He is there in the quiet times of remembrance, he is there in the happy times that are familiar, he is there in the sad times when consolation is needed, and he is there in every hug. Henry is remembered, and he is missed.
----------
Loving husband of Geraldine Grace "Gerry" Meyers Allen.
At the beginning of World War II, Henry Harrison Allen, Jr. was attached as a civilian to the Army Corps of Engineers, where he assisted with construction of an Ordinance Plant. Following completion of construction, he transferred to the Armed Service Forces Ordinance Department, where he was employed as an Inspector and Special Investigator. Henry felt he was still not doing enough for the War effort, so at the maximum draft age, he volunteered for active duty with the Army, enlisting at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
Henry received basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, and earned the designation of Expert Rifleman. He was then assigned stateside to Company D of the 812th Tank Battalion, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. There, Henry learned to drive tanks and tank destroyers and then taught those skills to others (Tank Driver 1736). Due to declining health, he was discharged from active duty on 11 September 1945.
Henry was an exceptional man, but the qualities that made him so exceptional are difficult to put into writing. His grandchildren knew him as "Papa"... a cherished grandfather who was everything a wonderful Papa should be! He was honest, strong, and unyielding on his principles, but he communicated those principles in a way that inspired rather than criticized. He was not well-educated, but his intelligence was obvious to all who knew him. He had a quiet faith that spoke volumes. He had a way of being serious and funny at the same time. He had the most tremendous capacity to love completely, without requiring anything in return. He treated his wife, Gerry, as if she was the most precious thing on God's green earth, because to Henry that was exactly what she was. His grandchildren behaved better with him than anywhere else... not because he was harsh, but because they did not want to see him sad at their downfall. Henry's presence has been felt by his family many times in the years since he has gone. He is there in the quiet times of remembrance, he is there in the happy times that are familiar, he is there in the sad times when consolation is needed, and he is there in every hug. Henry is remembered, and he is missed.
