“All gave some, some gave all.”
Beckoned by Nazi machine gun fire, a Higgins boat haltingly approached the coast of France.
Soldiers gathered in a Higgins boat
Huddled around each other in the vehicle, platoon mates let out a collective nervous sigh. The average age between them is only twenty-six, yet the group of young men was tasked to do something both great, and incredibly dangerous. The platoon hung on carefully to the words of their commanding officer hoping that they will be the difference between dying on that beach, or going home to see their families once again.
June 6, 1944 is a date that will forever be remembered as one of the bloodiest days of World War II and in the history of the United States Military. The Allied Forces stormed the Nazi-occupied beaches of Normandy, France, and secured a key victory, but it came at a cost. On “D-day,” as it is commonly referred to, approximately 10,000 casualties were reported by the Allied Forces, with about 6,600 of those being Americans.
Tragically lost somewhere in those numbers is my great grand uncle, First Lieutenant John Willie Henshaw. My maternal grandfather’s uncle, John Willie was born and raised in Union County, Kentucky. The Henshaws have called Union County home since at least the early 1800s and can still be found there to this very day. The Henshaws were just like many other traditional southern families. They farmed corn and soybeans, held livestock, and led very simple lives. John Willie, however, broke from the mold of previous Henshaw men. John Willie was only twenty-six years old when he died in the Normandy landings and was outlived by his father by over thirty years. John Willie is buried in St. Laruent, France, but he has a memorial dedicated to him on the headstone of his parents James I Henshaw and Ruth Van Cleave.
Memorial to John Willie Henshaw on his parents’ grave.
Serving in the United States Military is something that my family takes great pride in. Both my father and brother serve in the United States Army, and their service of is something that has greatly shaped my life. Growing up in an Army household, I truly gained an appreciation for values like discipline and responsibility. I lived a childhood very similar to that of other “Army Brats.” My family and I bounced around from state to state, living in over eight different places. Although it was difficult getting accustomed to a new area and then being forced to move soon after, I would not trade anything for the pride that I have in my father and brother’s service. Their service and sacrifice truly makes me feel honored to be a part of my family and this country.
Works Consulted
Allied Forces in Higgins Boat. N.d. 29th Division (UK), 116th Regiment, C Company –
Re-enactment Group: D-Day Landings. Web. 29 Oct. 2014
“D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: Your Questions Answered.” D-Day Museum and
Overlord Embroidery. D-Day Museum (UK), n.d. Web. 28 October 2014.