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[Holly6]

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Technically Ivan was an Uncle, but I lived with him and my Aunt for most of my formative years. 5' 7" tall and weighing in around 140, he was “everyman” to us, unassuming, hardly the vision on the “warrior ideal”. I was well aware that he had been in the AAF during the War, however his stories, even among his peers, talked of the various places they got drunk. An ROTC warrior, I was set for Graduation and Commission in 1972, he sat me down with a few drinks and explained to me his truth about battle. “There is no flag, no cause, and no marching bands. You’ll be scared most of the time, bored the rest, and learn to only count on your buddies”.

I found this among his effects after his passing.

Herald Republic. Jan 21st 1944?

FLYER SCORES 106 MISSIONS:
Not to many persons, even in this day of air warfare have flown 50 combat missions.
Far fewer have upped the score to 100 combat missions.
And even fewer have increased the score to 106 missions, with half of them flown in the Pacific theater of war and the rest in the European war.

RECORD MADE
That score belongs to Ivan Henderson, technical sergeant, who left the Italian beaches on August 12 and is now enjoying his furlough in Yakima and at his former home in Wapato with his father, Arthur Henderson. His great ambition is to fully recover his strength during his leave so that he may be assigned to another series of combat missions, this time in China.
Sgt. Henderson, one of the few flyers who can speak from experience in contrasting the air battles of the war in Europe and that in the Pacific, had his toughest individual fight over Lae, but considers the battles off the Anzio beachhead surpass anything the jungle terrain had to offer. Sgt. Henderson is a radio operator but during his service on the medium bombers to which he is “partial”, also serves as gunner and admits that his plane carries “the two sweetest guns” that anyone could want to handle. He should know: with those guns he is credited with having shot down seven planes, all officially verified.

FLIES ATLANTIC HOME
During his 34 months in service Sgt. Henderson served for 18 months in the New Guinea and Australian drive and for 11 months was based in Italy. He left there exactly two weeks ago today to be flown across the Atlantic and most of the way home and returns with the Distinguished Service Cross, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, a presidential citation (and is also proud of the 340th bomber squadron and the 12th Air Force) and six stars designating major engagements.

“I want to volunteer right back.: Sgt. Henderson says. “After trying both, I think the European air theater is tougher than the Pacific. The Japs haven’t got the anti-aircraft fire there is in Europe”. “Fights? The toughest individual mission I ever had was at Lae when 25 Jap fighters jumped five of us. We got 15 of them and one outfit there in 10 months shot down 108 Japs and lost three of our own. Our outfit bombed from Lae to Buna”.

ANZIO REALLY “TOUGH”But for tough fighting, take the Anzio beachhead. I had 15 missions off that beach and every one was tough, I was in “the first” flight over that monastery -- Mount Cassino– and had the hottest single spot over Peruigia. It was too hot to give time to see much country, but that’s a beautiful section. Later I went into action over southern France.”
As for the comparative courtesy of the fighters, Sgt Henderson will trust to the German rather than the Japs.
“At one time when our plane was shot badly and we were coming in low on one engine. The Germans gave us a break and left us alone while we made it home.” He points out. “Nothing like that ever happens in the Pacific. At one time we were hours in the air, nursing a damaged plane home but the Japs were after us every minute and never gave us a break.”

WORLD’S BEAUTY SPOT
With all the world to admire including even days spent “resting” in the world-renowned beauty of the isle of Capri, Sgt. Henderson remains true to his homeland. “If you want a pleasure tour and to see a beautiful country, travel over the United States.” He says with emphasis, “No other country has what we’ve got. We have everything.”.......

Like so many millions around the world, Ivan took off the uniform after the War. He came home and went back to the business of living. The occasional bouts of malaria and the infrequent nightmares were the only clues I ever had of the incredible life he led when he was younger. Ivan passed in 1986 and is buried in the Veterans Section of the local cemetery.....

[cyberia]

Fantastic story, Hal. To Ivan...Prosit!

[Jim O]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

[Airchallenged]

Oh. I always wondered who that guy was. Nice story.

[Holly6]

Originally Posted by Airchallenged

Oh. I always wondered who that guy was. Nice story.

Thanks, just one simple man fighting a war that history would write about for years. Just a kid coming from the Depression era in Central WA and became a small factor in a great conflagration. How many millions from both sides would have had his life, had they lived?

[gi-rene]

Excellent information, its always good to find those little scraps of family and personal history.

Thanks Ivan.

[lufttiger]

What a neat history you got there, and a great man he was too.

[Panzermacher]

To Ivan....Prosit!

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by Panzermacher

To Ivan....Prosit!

It's amazing to see what people can do when called upon. The greatest challenge produces the greatest achievement.

While he would probably never have admitted to it, Ivan Henderson was a true war hero! Thanks for the story Holly6.

[Holly6]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

It's amazing to see what people can do when called upon. The greatest challenge produces the greatest achievement.

While he would probably never have admitted to it, Ivan Henderson was a true war hero! Thanks for the story Holly6.

Well said. And he didn't. Thanks