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<i>Frederick Howard Henderson </i><font size="2">was born in Fresno, CA. His father, Frederick P. Henderson, was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. His mother, Harriet Henderson, was a fourth grade teacher at Hillside School. Early in Fred’s childhood the family moved to Berkeley, CA, and Fred attended Berkeley High School where he excelled in science and mathematics. Undoubtedly influenced by his father’s patriotic service in two wars, Fred’s lifelong dream was to attend West Point and make the U.S. Army his career. </font></p>
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<font size="2">After graduation from high school, Fred attended the University of California at Berkeley from 1956 to 1959 while making repeated attempts to secure a nomination to West Point. At the University of California during his sophomore year, he met the love of his life, Jacqueline "Jackie" Arbios, from Moraga, CA. Their love story made those three years of additional preparation for West Point even more worthwhile. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Nothing shows how determined he was to get into West Point than his willingness to start his college career over again at West Point after spending three years at the University of California. Fred did very well during his cadet years. Academically, he finished in the top half of the class with over an 80 percent average. One of his company mates remembers him as a quality guy, genuine, with one of the most infectious smiles he had ever seen. </font></p>
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<font size="2">During his First Class year, he arranged to have Jackie, who had a degree in education, move to Highland Falls and live with another classmate’s sweetheart. Both held teaching jobs in the nearby area while waiting for their cadets to graduate. Jackie’s roommate in Highland Falls described Fred as "this big, handsome guy who could be lots of fun but mostly was pretty quiet and serious." Fred’s best friend and classmate describes him as calm and self assured, giving everyone around him the feeling he knew what he was doing. As his <i>Howitzer </i>description indicates, "He was determined to succeed and succeed he did."</font></p>
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<font size="2">After graduation from West Point, Fred quickly married Jackie and attended the Infantry Basic Course along with Airborne, and Ranger Schools. He received his first assignment to the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii in early 1964. As an officer within A Company, 1/27th Infantry Battalion, he achieved a reputation as a quiet, no-nonsense, highly respected leader in the unit. Fred and Jackie gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Suzanne, during this period. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Fred deployed to Vietnam with his unit most likely in the early part of 1966. At the time he continued as executive officer of A Company, 1/27th Infantry Battalion. In probably his first exposure to combat, he demonstrated heroism and leadership in battle during a search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong. According to a local press report that referenced the award’s citation, A Company came under intense enemy fire. Fred demonstrated great courage and leadership capacity by personally leading an armored personnel carrier for 50 meters along a trail to a point where the vehicle could best be used to bring effective fire on the enemy resulting in the enemy’s demoralization and retreat. For his actions, he received the Bronze Star Medal for valor. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Later that year in the September 1966 timeframe and after his promotion to captain, his battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Guy S. Meloy III, later Major General Meloy, named Fred as commander of C Company, 1/27th Infantry Battalion. Given his leadership and command abilities, he was regarded as the best company commander in the brigade, and his unit reflected that fact in the way it acquitted itself in battle. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Fred’s final battle, Operation Attleboro—one of the largest operations of the Vietnam War—commenced in early November 1966. Fred led his unit, C Company, in an air assault to rescue B Company that had been cut off by enemy forces in the woods near the landing zone. Unfortunately, the landing zone was surrounded by a large and well dug in enemy force. Fred was killed leading the company in the assault and the company took about 50 percent casualties. Fred led from the front and his Silver Star citation attests to his bravery and the loyalty he felt toward his men for which he died in battle. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Lieutenant General Robert Foley who back then commanded Alpha Company of the 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion relates a poignant sequel demonstrating Fred’s positive influence even after his death. Then-Captain Foley arrived on the battlefield near Dau Tieng the next day, November 4, and asked where he could bring his platoon leaders together to give them instructions. He was directed to a nearby Command Post tent. </font></p>
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<font size="2">After he had issued his orders, he sat down on the cot in the tent and noticed a foot locker with the name Captain Frederick H. Henderson stenciled on its side. It was then that he realized his company would be in for a tough fight in the coming days. According to Lieutenant General Foley, "In many ways Fred was instrumental in raising our awareness that we were going to need a special surge of courage, mental toughness, and teamwork if we were going to accomplish the mission and insure our Soldiers survived the upcoming battle."</font></p>
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<font size="2">Thank you for your great service, ultimate sacrifice, and positive example of the finest leadership qualities in peacetime and wartime. You lived the West Point motto: Duty, Honor, Country. Your family, comrades in arms, classmates, and country lost a wonderful man and future general officer with great promise to make a positive difference in an always troubled world.</font></p>
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<font size="2"><i>— Alden Cunningham & classmates </i></font></p>