Bernard Lee Henderson

Bio

After graduating from Milby High School in Houston, TX in 1949, Bernard Lee “Slim” Henderson received an academic scholarship at the University of Houston in mechanical engineering. Originally a cook for the National Guard while in Fort Sill, Oklahoma when the war broke out, he was reassigned to the Marine Corps in San Diego before his deployment to Pohang, Korea in February of 1951. Bernard Henderson moved to the 5th Marine Regiment, weapons company, as a 3.5 rocket launcher during Operation Killer. Bernard Henderson’s company was met with extreme resistance from the Chinese and North Korean forces, but they were able to hold a steady line against the enemy. Having secured several mountain ranges along the Taebaek Mountains from the Chinese, he shared life as a Marine and how proud he was of the Korean people’s engineering feats following the armistice.

Video Clips

Carepackages from family members

Bernard Henderson shared that he would write letters to his parents requesting fruitcakes and breads. His mom would send care packages to the front lines. He said he was able to carry the food along with all of his military supplies (almost 88 lbs of ammo) on A-frames that were designed to carry the amount of bullets and supplies.

Tags: 1951 Battle of Bloody Ridge, 8/18-9/15/,Food,Front lines,Living conditions

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Fire In The Hole

Bernard Henderson shared his experience of being struck in his chest with shrapnel. Puny Wilson, one of the members of his regiment, was pulling guard-men one night and yelled, "Fire in the hole" 5 times. After throwing the 2nd grenade, Bernard stood up from his fox hole and the grenade hit him right in the chest. Although it didn't penetrate through his clothes, he started tearing his clothes off yelling for a corps men to help him.

Tags: 1951 Battle of Bloody Ridge, 8/18-9/15/,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction,Weapons

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Life as a Soldier During the Korean War

Bernard Henderson would sleep in his foxhole with his clothes on in a sleeping bag in shifts with other Marines. As a Marine, they did not shower often since they were stationed up in the mountains. The most difficult time he had was trying to escape from a Chinese attack by running down railroad tracks since it was not even, but he just wanted to stay alive.