Gus C. Henson
Biography: Augustus Charles Henson, “Gus”, was born on October 27, 1908 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was the son of Christina and Claude Henson and after graduating from local schools, he continued his education at the University of Illinois and then SMU (Southern Methodist University) night school for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) training.
Service Time: On March 5, 1941, with the possibility of war on the horizon, Gus was ordered into active duty at the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was assigned to Battery B of the 123rd Filed Artillery Battalion of the 33rd Division of the Illinois National Guard, where he would spend the next year. The unit formed their own anti-tank unit, which would become the 633rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. They continued their training and served as “School Troops” and on March 17, 1942, five officers and seventy seven enlisted men were used as a cadre to form the 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Gus was assigned to Company C and promoted to of the rank of Captain, becoming the Company Commander.
The 809th had been stationed at a few locations but continued their training at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Pilot Knob, California, Camp Howze, TX and Fort Benning, Georgia. They took part in the Louisiana Maneuvers with additional training at the Indianola Firing Range at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas and at the Desert Training Center in Arizona and California. The 809th received orders for overseas deployment and shipped out from the New York port on November 30, 1944, aboard the SS Pasteur. The ship was a French ocean liner named after the famous French biologist and chemist, Louis Pasteur. The ship sailed alone due to its 26 knots top speed and arrived in Liverpool, England, on December, 8th. Just over a month later, they boarded transports and arrived at Le Havre, France, on January 20, 1945.
The unit was equipped with M18 tank destroyers and supported the Roer River crossings in late February, 1945. They crossed the Rhine River on March 27th, and supported operations against the Ruhr Pocket in April, converting to M36 tank destroyers that same month. On April 1st, while attached to the 8th Armored Division, Gus was involved in the following action for which he received the Silver Star.
Citation (G.O. No. 46, June 7, 1945):
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gus C. Henson, Captain (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 8th Armored Division in Germany on 1 April 1945. When an infantry platoon was pinned down by enemy small arms and artillery fire, Captain Henson braved the fire to go to their aid. Upon making contact with the trapped men, he found that they were disorganized and in great danger of annihilation. Displaying the highest qualities of leadership, he reorganized the platoon, made personal reconnaissance and using all available cover, led the men to safety. Captain Henson’s keen knowledge and outstanding personal bravery reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed forces of the United States. Headquarters, 8th Armored Division, General Orders Number 46 (June 7, 1945) with Home of Record: Dallas, Texas.
The 809th finally helped clear the Harz mountains in late April and received credit for campaigns in the Rhineland and Central Europe and Gus received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in March of 1945. After the war had ended. Gus briefly served as the Military Governor of the City of Lisenburg, Germany and was ordered home, moving to Camp Lucky Strike in France before boarding the ship Green Devil in July.
After the war, Gus worked for the Internal Revenue Service as an agent in Dallas, TX. He left the IRS and went to work in the oil business as a drilling contractor in Dallas. He married the former Mary Lucille Johnson who was born in Illinois and was the daughter of Oscar Theodore Johnson and Mary Ellen Russell. The new couple would have three children, Rae, Joe and Tom. Gus transferred to the Air Force Reserves in 1948, and continued his military service being promoted to Major and then Lt. Colonel, serving as Wing Adjutant and later as Wing Personnel Officer. He was called to active duty during the Korean War, serving with the Auditor General of the Air Force. He retired from the military in 1968, and was very active in the St. Monica Catholic Church also in Dallas. He passed away on November 21, 2006, and was buried in the Calvary Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Dallas, TX.
I want to thank Bill Northrop for providing much of the information and photos used in this tribute.