FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Lt Col Anthony Henderson ~ January 21, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Anthony Henderson

Info from here.

           

For Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Henderson, it was a lifetime of service and professional development in the U.S. Marine Corps that prepared him to command 1,200 Marines in southern Afghanistan and engage in the most vicious combat fighting he had ever seen.

"Your preparations for those types of moments span your entire career," said Henderson. "At 18 years of education and training, it's what prepared me to listen and learn."

Just two months into his deployment in southern Helmand Province, Henderson, who was the Commander of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Division, was tasked to devise a combat plan to overrun a historic Taliban stronghold in the Gamshir area known as the Jugroom Fort. Jugroom Fort was a 19th century British fort, built out of mud, which spanned five kilometers and was surrounded by tunnels, machine-gun bunkers, minefield and IEDs. It was typically defended by 200-400 Taliban fighters at any given point in time.

"It was a very complex attack. We had forces moving by land and air - plus we were coordinating with the British forces," said Henderson.

The mission began on April 28, 2008, and for the next month, there were several sustained battles as the ISAF forces slowly closed in on the area. The major combat operation commenced on May 28, 2008. Henderson led his Battalion to the southern end of Fort Jugroom, while still keeping his eye on the overall battle plan.

As Henderson's Battalion approached the Fort, the enemy began firing on the rear echelon trucks, essentially closing them in between the Fort and enemy fire. Henderson decided to push his men into the interior area of the Fort to engage directly with the enemy.

"Marines had to physically get the Taliban out of the Fort and it was the most vicious fighting I had ever seen," reflected Henderson. "The enemy had defensive positions in and outside the Fort, and grenades and rocket fire were exchanged between 10, 20 and 30 meters."

"There were fighters and Marines all over the place. The enemy was around everyone and everyone was around the enemy."

At this point, Henderson's men and the other one thousand Marines fighting at Fort Jugroom had been awake for two whole days with temperatures reaching 110 degrees. With 3-4-foot wheat fields surrounding the Fort, Henderson knew that fighting into the night would be dangerous - from the threat of enemy attacks and the heat.

"I grew up on a farm and I knew that wheat fields collect extreme heat. I had to make a decision that would result in the least amount of casualties," reflected Henderson.

As the firefight subsided, the Marines retreated to nearby shelter. However, the next day, intelligence reports indicated that the enemy was packing up and heading toward the Pakistani border. It became a major victory for the ISAF forces and Henderson's Marines.

"We spent the next two weeks clearing the Fort and the surrounding villages where the Taliban had stocked weapons and ammunition," said Henderson. "For them, Jugroom was the final defense and there was nothing left to defend." Henderson's tour in Afghanistan lasted six more months after the battle for Jugroom Fort. Two years later, he is stationed with the Joint Chiefs Regional Operations Staff in Washington, D.C., and Henderson can only wish to be back in Afghanistan.

"It's humbling and fulfilling to lead Marines," reflected Henderson. "I have a constant yearning to be back there and amongst them."

More good stuff....

 

Awarded: The Bronze Star with ‘Valor’

Right click to download this hero's story.

Interview:

September 01, 2010 - Pentagon Channel (1.8 MB)

 

     

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!


TATTOO
(Click)

Must retire – an early call awaits me in the morning! No weekends at Castle MacNessa!

The Bugler, his grim visage replete with an evil sneer, already mounts the parapet.

Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!



All Gave Some – Some Gave All!!!
(Click)

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[luvie]

Well, I heard a rumor...but maybe it’s just a nightmare that we will wake up from soon!

[luvie]

I think maybe tomorrow might be a good day to schedule an root canal or major surgery...right? :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...hope you had a lovely day. Did you get a nap?

Col Henderson is indeed one of our heroes. Star found another one for us to learn about.

Busy, busy here. Trying to do a little homework, as well as make a dent in stacking up paperwork.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Events tomorrow in D.C.? I hadn't heard. I guess I'm really out of it!

Me, too! I will be hard at work.

[luvie]

Howdy, Kathy! Darn...having to do housework on your only real day off! I need to do a LOT of cleaning. Left hubby and 2 kittens here for over a week...alone! Disaster! LOL!

[luvie]

Nite, Conor! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Did kitties remember Mom upon her return?

I WISH I had Monday off...I need the day at home, but it is not to be. I must trudge into the office.

[luvie]

I think the kitties remembered. Kind of hard to tell with cats. They try to play it cool....unlike dogs. LOL!

I wish both of us could stay at home. I must trudge off, too, but it will probably be fairly slow. We’re nearly back to normal after the holiday crazies! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mac...*HUGS*...did you use the treadmill? Get a little farther? Hang on tight!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Well...happy trudging. Glad things are finally settling down.

Does Valentine’s Day start a new rush?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique, for the troop woohoo.

Luv.....#50!!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Just a quick drive by to say “Hello”
Hope everyone is doing well!
I have a very uplifting video for you to watch..
Please check out “Larry, The Flagman” and his love and dedication to our fallen:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/TNJ9umv10EM?feature=player_detailpage

Hanky Alert!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Drive By! ((HUGS))

*sniff* WOW! What a sight!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, Yehuda...((HUGS))

What kind of weather are you having? Much snow?

We had a light dusting today.

[yorkie]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, yorkie....a lot of us are feeling the same. ((HUGS))

[Kathy in Alaska]