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name
HENSLEY, Claude - Date of
birth
2 February 1914 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Houston, Dallas County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38058109 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
23rd Infantry Regiment,
2nd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 April 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Merseburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 8 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Bunion H. Hensley (father)
Eulah D. (Walker) Hensley (mother)
Lillie M. (Dillon) Hensley (stepmother)
Evie Hensley (sister)
Ernest H. Hensley (brother)
Verna H. Hensley (sister)
Myrtle Hensley (sister)
Clara L. Hensley (sister)
Bertram Carlton (halfbrother)
Dickie L. Hensley (halfbrother)
Lela R. (Mefford) Hensley (wife)
Kenneth D. Hensley (son)
Robert E. Hensley (son)
Richard E. Hensley (son)
Patricia (Dooley) Hensley (daughter)
More information
S/Sgt Claude Hensley was a mechanic before he enlisted in Houston, Texas on 14 August 1941.S/Sgt Claude Hensley of Liberty was the man who, when the enemy captured two 23rd Regiment machine guns during the counter-offensive in France, turned the two machine gun positions into death traps for the Germans who tried to man the guns. Sgt Hensley crawled forward with a light machine gun and got into a position where he could fire on both of the captured weapons. He killed at least 15 Germans and wounded many more. For this exploit, Sergeant Hensley has been awarded the Bronze Star.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Patricia Hensley Dooley, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://aad.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.newspapers.com - The Liberty Vindicator
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Han van Florop