Claude Henderson joined the Marines in October of 1942 with aspirations.
The young man from Norfolk, Virginia was assigned to the mortar section of Able Company, 24th Marines, and could not wait to wear the double chevrons of a corporal. He was a good Marine and earned badges for qualification in numerous weapons, yet seemed destined to remain a Private First Class. Though he sometimes raised the ire of his fellow enlisted men by acting like a corporal, he was liked by his platoon, and was appointed leader of a mortar squad. His friends teased him mercilessly when one of them discovered that, buried in the bottom of his foot locker, Claude had an extra blouse that already had corporal's chevrons sewn on.
Claude Henderson fought on Namur, and shortly thereafter was promoted to corporal. It could not have come too soon for Henderson, and the platoon celebrated its round of promotions with an unauthorized booze up out in the Hawaiian countryside. Henderson led his team on Saipan, until he was wounded and evacuated on June 22. He was soon returned to the company.
While landing on Tinian, July 24, 1944, Henderson was shot by a Japanese sniper. The bullet caught him in the throat, and he was immediately rushed back to the landing craft and taken to the hospital ship USS Heywood.
The next day, his comrade in arms Howard Haff arrived at the same ship with his own injury. He happily recognized the face in the bed next to his, and greeted the wounded Henderson, but was appalled to find that Claude could no longer speak. The damage to his neck was too great.
Corporal Claude Henderson died later that night. His body was brought back ashore and buried in Grave 77, Row 2, Plot 1 of the Marine Cemetery on Tinian.
In 1947, Claude Henderson Senior formally requested that his son's remains be returned to the United States. The corporal was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk VA.
The young man from Norfolk, Virginia was assigned to the mortar section of Able Company, 24th Marines, and could not wait to wear the double chevrons of a corporal. He was a good Marine and earned badges for qualification in numerous weapons, yet seemed destined to remain a Private First Class. Though he sometimes raised the ire of his fellow enlisted men by acting like a corporal, he was liked by his platoon, and was appointed leader of a mortar squad. His friends teased him mercilessly when one of them discovered that, buried in the bottom of his foot locker, Claude had an extra blouse that already had corporal's chevrons sewn on.
Claude Henderson fought on Namur, and shortly thereafter was promoted to corporal. It could not have come too soon for Henderson, and the platoon celebrated its round of promotions with an unauthorized booze up out in the Hawaiian countryside. Henderson led his team on Saipan, until he was wounded and evacuated on June 22. He was soon returned to the company.
While landing on Tinian, July 24, 1944, Henderson was shot by a Japanese sniper. The bullet caught him in the throat, and he was immediately rushed back to the landing craft and taken to the hospital ship USS Heywood.
The next day, his comrade in arms Howard Haff arrived at the same ship with his own injury. He happily recognized the face in the bed next to his, and greeted the wounded Henderson, but was appalled to find that Claude could no longer speak. The damage to his neck was too great.
Corporal Claude Henderson died later that night. His body was brought back ashore and buried in Grave 77, Row 2, Plot 1 of the Marine Cemetery on Tinian.
In 1947, Claude Henderson Senior formally requested that his son's remains be returned to the United States. The corporal was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk VA.
Claude Henderson joined the Marines in October of 1942 with aspirations.
The young man from Norfolk, Virginia was assigned to the mortar section of Able Company, 24th Marines, and could not wait to wear the double chevrons of a corporal. He was a good Marine and earned badges for qualification in numerous weapons, yet seemed destined to remain a Private First Class. Though he sometimes raised the ire of his fellow enlisted men by acting like a corporal, he was liked by his platoon, and was appointed leader of a mortar squad. His friends teased him mercilessly when one of them discovered that, buried in the bottom of his foot locker, Claude had an extra blouse that already had corporal's chevrons sewn on.
Claude Henderson fought on Namur, and shortly thereafter was promoted to corporal. It could not have come too soon for Henderson, and the platoon celebrated its round of promotions with an unauthorized booze up out in the Hawaiian countryside. Henderson led his team on Saipan, until he was wounded and evacuated on June 22. He was soon returned to the company.
While landing on Tinian, July 24, 1944, Henderson was shot by a Japanese sniper. The bullet caught him in the throat, and he was immediately rushed back to the landing craft and taken to the hospital ship USS Heywood.
The next day, his comrade in arms Howard Haff arrived at the same ship with his own injury. He happily recognized the face in the bed next to his, and greeted the wounded Henderson, but was appalled to find that Claude could no longer speak. The damage to his neck was too great.
Corporal Claude Henderson died later that night. His body was brought back ashore and buried in Grave 77, Row 2, Plot 1 of the Marine Cemetery on Tinian.
In 1947, Claude Henderson Senior formally requested that his son's remains be returned to the United States. The corporal was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk VA.
The young man from Norfolk, Virginia was assigned to the mortar section of Able Company, 24th Marines, and could not wait to wear the double chevrons of a corporal. He was a good Marine and earned badges for qualification in numerous weapons, yet seemed destined to remain a Private First Class. Though he sometimes raised the ire of his fellow enlisted men by acting like a corporal, he was liked by his platoon, and was appointed leader of a mortar squad. His friends teased him mercilessly when one of them discovered that, buried in the bottom of his foot locker, Claude had an extra blouse that already had corporal's chevrons sewn on.
Claude Henderson fought on Namur, and shortly thereafter was promoted to corporal. It could not have come too soon for Henderson, and the platoon celebrated its round of promotions with an unauthorized booze up out in the Hawaiian countryside. Henderson led his team on Saipan, until he was wounded and evacuated on June 22. He was soon returned to the company.
While landing on Tinian, July 24, 1944, Henderson was shot by a Japanese sniper. The bullet caught him in the throat, and he was immediately rushed back to the landing craft and taken to the hospital ship USS Heywood.
The next day, his comrade in arms Howard Haff arrived at the same ship with his own injury. He happily recognized the face in the bed next to his, and greeted the wounded Henderson, but was appalled to find that Claude could no longer speak. The damage to his neck was too great.
Corporal Claude Henderson died later that night. His body was brought back ashore and buried in Grave 77, Row 2, Plot 1 of the Marine Cemetery on Tinian.
In 1947, Claude Henderson Senior formally requested that his son's remains be returned to the United States. The corporal was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk VA.
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