Alaska Highway. Company H&S and B. Born: 3 April 1916, Roseville Village, Muskingum County, OH. Died: 2 October 1999, East Cleveland, Cuyahoga, OH.
He attended Ohio State University and joined ROTC. As a reserve officer, in 1939, he participated in two weeks training with the 5th Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1942 he was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Engineers.
Prior to his commission, his home was Englewood, New Jersey. He had been employed as a aeronautical engineer at Wright Aircraft Corporation in Patterson, NJ. Now on active duty, he boarded a plane to his new assignment at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. His wife, Lorraine, remained at their home in New Jersey.
He was an officer with the 97th Engineer Regiment and landed with them at Valdez, Alaska in April 1942. Three feet of snow covered the ground. The 97th Engineers constructed the northern section of the Alaska Highway.
Second Lt. Henery, was assigned first with the H&S Company. From August 1942 to January 1943 he was with Company B. In February of 1943 he was promoted to 1Lt and was transferred to Headquarters in the H&S Company.
During a 1944 leave, 1Lt. Andrew Henery of the U.S. Army Air Corps, previously served with the Engineers on the Alaska Highway, met his brother, Machinists Mate Jack Henery, for the first time in four years. Each told their story.
During the Pearl Harbor attack, Jack was wounded and his battleship, the USS Nevada, was a flaming wreckage. The USS Nevada was repaired and in April of 1943 she sailed through fog for four days to reached the craggy mountains and reefs of Massacre Bay at Attu island in the Aleutians.
The Japanese had occupied Attu in June of 1942. Unknown to Jack, his brother, Andrew, was with the 97th Engineers building the Alaska highway. He was almost next door, involved in an important project to transport materials and men to defend Alaska from the Japanese.
Andrew and Jack graduated from Lash High School in Zanesville, Ohio. Their parents were Ralph W. Henery, a steam and electric Engineer employed at General Motors, and Goldie May Hayes. Ralph and Goldie were married on October 10, 1914 and in 1964 they celebrated their 50th anniversary.
Andrew graduated from Ohio State University as an aeronautical engineer, married Lorraine Stilin, and after WW2 he returned to his previous civilian employment. On 2 April 1951, he enlisted a second time for the Korean War. He was discharged 25 June 1953.
Serial #O-375440