Born in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles and Mary Ellen "May" (Laney) Henkey. Harry had an older brother named Edward, and younger sisters Dorothy and Alice, and half brother and sister: Jacqueline and Clarence Sexton, Junior.
Harry felt like his life was spared a number of times. He used to skip school and drive around with his Uncle Fred. He recalled one day his mother said he couldn't go, and his Uncle Fred died in a car accident that day.
He survived diphtheria when he was a child. He had to relearn much of his schooling. Because he was so much older than the others in his class, he quit with only a fifth grade education.
He served in Patton's 3rd army, 4th infantry during WWII. He fought in the Siegfried Line in the Battle of the Bulge, and received the purple heart for a shrapnel wound to the middle of his upper back. He woke up in an army hospital in England with his wrist bandaged round and round. He was told to unwrap it and found the piece of shrapnel they took out of him.
He was married on March 29, 1947. They had four children. Friends called him Harry, mom's family called him Mel, and his own family called him Buddy. I didn't like asking who was calling on the phone, but I could narrow it down by who they asked for.
He was very devoted to his family. He worked as a truck driver, liked to camp and go on long drives. He belonged to a camping club and a CB radio club. In his later years he began going to church and wanted to learn about his Savior. He survived a heart attack, but died years later from lung cancer.
I will see you again Dad.
A story he dictated to me, years ago: Germany. After battle, I and some other soldiers went down the road because one said a half mile down there was some hot chow. Then we got lost in the woods and ended up walking in circles. Never found the chow. Came out where MPs were directing traffic at a crossroad. Knowing that MPs are not on front lines, we thought we were in regiment. Went to ask MP where we were. Major and driver came up in jeep, immediately knew who we were because we were covered with dirt and MPs were clean and shiny. Informed Major who we were and he took us in jeep to his quarters and called our commanders. Took us out to his barn to sleep in. We could share guard duty of German prisoner. Asked us later if we would shoot the German so no one would have to stand guard. Said I'd rather not unless commanded. He couldn't understand why. Asked other men and no one wanted to. So he was surprised, and we (the lost men) guarded the German all night, at 2 hour intervals so his men could get their rest. A very young, light skinned German that we saved his life.
One night we banged on doors after being fired on. Forced people to get out of their house. One old man asked us to keep an eye on his house and see eggs weren't disturbed because food was so hard to get.
Digging in foxholes during combat, under Sgt. Fautknaut. I got a cut on hand and he sent me to aid station. As I went back some of the guys asked me where I was going. Then told me not to go up there because Fautknaut had just gotten shelled and got killed.
Harry felt like his life was spared a number of times. He used to skip school and drive around with his Uncle Fred. He recalled one day his mother said he couldn't go, and his Uncle Fred died in a car accident that day.
He survived diphtheria when he was a child. He had to relearn much of his schooling. Because he was so much older than the others in his class, he quit with only a fifth grade education.
He served in Patton's 3rd army, 4th infantry during WWII. He fought in the Siegfried Line in the Battle of the Bulge, and received the purple heart for a shrapnel wound to the middle of his upper back. He woke up in an army hospital in England with his wrist bandaged round and round. He was told to unwrap it and found the piece of shrapnel they took out of him.
He was married on March 29, 1947. They had four children. Friends called him Harry, mom's family called him Mel, and his own family called him Buddy. I didn't like asking who was calling on the phone, but I could narrow it down by who they asked for.
He was very devoted to his family. He worked as a truck driver, liked to camp and go on long drives. He belonged to a camping club and a CB radio club. In his later years he began going to church and wanted to learn about his Savior. He survived a heart attack, but died years later from lung cancer.
I will see you again Dad.
A story he dictated to me, years ago: Germany. After battle, I and some other soldiers went down the road because one said a half mile down there was some hot chow. Then we got lost in the woods and ended up walking in circles. Never found the chow. Came out where MPs were directing traffic at a crossroad. Knowing that MPs are not on front lines, we thought we were in regiment. Went to ask MP where we were. Major and driver came up in jeep, immediately knew who we were because we were covered with dirt and MPs were clean and shiny. Informed Major who we were and he took us in jeep to his quarters and called our commanders. Took us out to his barn to sleep in. We could share guard duty of German prisoner. Asked us later if we would shoot the German so no one would have to stand guard. Said I'd rather not unless commanded. He couldn't understand why. Asked other men and no one wanted to. So he was surprised, and we (the lost men) guarded the German all night, at 2 hour intervals so his men could get their rest. A very young, light skinned German that we saved his life.
One night we banged on doors after being fired on. Forced people to get out of their house. One old man asked us to keep an eye on his house and see eggs weren't disturbed because food was so hard to get.
Digging in foxholes during combat, under Sgt. Fautknaut. I got a cut on hand and he sent me to aid station. As I went back some of the guys asked me where I was going. Then told me not to go up there because Fautknaut had just gotten shelled and got killed.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles and Mary Ellen "May" (Laney) Henkey. Harry had an older brother named Edward, and younger sisters Dorothy and Alice, and half brother and sister: Jacqueline and Clarence Sexton, Junior.
Harry felt like his life was spared a number of times. He used to skip school and drive around with his Uncle Fred. He recalled one day his mother said he couldn't go, and his Uncle Fred died in a car accident that day.
He survived diphtheria when he was a child. He had to relearn much of his schooling. Because he was so much older than the others in his class, he quit with only a fifth grade education.
He served in Patton's 3rd army, 4th infantry during WWII. He fought in the Siegfried Line in the Battle of the Bulge, and received the purple heart for a shrapnel wound to the middle of his upper back. He woke up in an army hospital in England with his wrist bandaged round and round. He was told to unwrap it and found the piece of shrapnel they took out of him.
He was married on March 29, 1947. They had four children. Friends called him Harry, mom's family called him Mel, and his own family called him Buddy. I didn't like asking who was calling on the phone, but I could narrow it down by who they asked for.
He was very devoted to his family. He worked as a truck driver, liked to camp and go on long drives. He belonged to a camping club and a CB radio club. In his later years he began going to church and wanted to learn about his Savior. He survived a heart attack, but died years later from lung cancer.
I will see you again Dad.
A story he dictated to me, years ago: Germany. After battle, I and some other soldiers went down the road because one said a half mile down there was some hot chow. Then we got lost in the woods and ended up walking in circles. Never found the chow. Came out where MPs were directing traffic at a crossroad. Knowing that MPs are not on front lines, we thought we were in regiment. Went to ask MP where we were. Major and driver came up in jeep, immediately knew who we were because we were covered with dirt and MPs were clean and shiny. Informed Major who we were and he took us in jeep to his quarters and called our commanders. Took us out to his barn to sleep in. We could share guard duty of German prisoner. Asked us later if we would shoot the German so no one would have to stand guard. Said I'd rather not unless commanded. He couldn't understand why. Asked other men and no one wanted to. So he was surprised, and we (the lost men) guarded the German all night, at 2 hour intervals so his men could get their rest. A very young, light skinned German that we saved his life.
One night we banged on doors after being fired on. Forced people to get out of their house. One old man asked us to keep an eye on his house and see eggs weren't disturbed because food was so hard to get.
Digging in foxholes during combat, under Sgt. Fautknaut. I got a cut on hand and he sent me to aid station. As I went back some of the guys asked me where I was going. Then told me not to go up there because Fautknaut had just gotten shelled and got killed.
Harry felt like his life was spared a number of times. He used to skip school and drive around with his Uncle Fred. He recalled one day his mother said he couldn't go, and his Uncle Fred died in a car accident that day.
He survived diphtheria when he was a child. He had to relearn much of his schooling. Because he was so much older than the others in his class, he quit with only a fifth grade education.
He served in Patton's 3rd army, 4th infantry during WWII. He fought in the Siegfried Line in the Battle of the Bulge, and received the purple heart for a shrapnel wound to the middle of his upper back. He woke up in an army hospital in England with his wrist bandaged round and round. He was told to unwrap it and found the piece of shrapnel they took out of him.
He was married on March 29, 1947. They had four children. Friends called him Harry, mom's family called him Mel, and his own family called him Buddy. I didn't like asking who was calling on the phone, but I could narrow it down by who they asked for.
He was very devoted to his family. He worked as a truck driver, liked to camp and go on long drives. He belonged to a camping club and a CB radio club. In his later years he began going to church and wanted to learn about his Savior. He survived a heart attack, but died years later from lung cancer.
I will see you again Dad.
A story he dictated to me, years ago: Germany. After battle, I and some other soldiers went down the road because one said a half mile down there was some hot chow. Then we got lost in the woods and ended up walking in circles. Never found the chow. Came out where MPs were directing traffic at a crossroad. Knowing that MPs are not on front lines, we thought we were in regiment. Went to ask MP where we were. Major and driver came up in jeep, immediately knew who we were because we were covered with dirt and MPs were clean and shiny. Informed Major who we were and he took us in jeep to his quarters and called our commanders. Took us out to his barn to sleep in. We could share guard duty of German prisoner. Asked us later if we would shoot the German so no one would have to stand guard. Said I'd rather not unless commanded. He couldn't understand why. Asked other men and no one wanted to. So he was surprised, and we (the lost men) guarded the German all night, at 2 hour intervals so his men could get their rest. A very young, light skinned German that we saved his life.
One night we banged on doors after being fired on. Forced people to get out of their house. One old man asked us to keep an eye on his house and see eggs weren't disturbed because food was so hard to get.
Digging in foxholes during combat, under Sgt. Fautknaut. I got a cut on hand and he sent me to aid station. As I went back some of the guys asked me where I was going. Then told me not to go up there because Fautknaut had just gotten shelled and got killed.
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