Marvin Jesse Henshaw, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
On 29 February 1944, then-Second Lieutenant Marvin Jesse Henshaw was serving with the 2nd Squadron, Troop G, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in the Far East Theater of Operations.
On that day, 2LT Henshaw’s unit was in action against Japanese forces during a landing on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands. The mission was to make a reconnaissance in force of the Japanese-occupied Island and, if feasible, capture Momote Airfield and secure a beachhead for the reinforcements that would follow. Just after 0800, the 1st Cavalry Division troopers clambered down the nets of the ships and into LCM's and LCPR's, the Navy's flat bottomed landing craft. The landing at Hayane Harbor took the Japanese by surprise. The first 3 waves of the assault troops from the 2nd Squadron, 5th Regiment reached the beach virtually unscathed. The 4th wave was less lucky; by then, the Japanese had been able to readjust their guns to the beachhead and some casualties were suffered. The Battle of Los Negros had begun. Troops under the command of LTC William E. Lobit of dispersed and attacked through the rain. They quickly fought their way to the Momote Airfield and had the entire airfield under control in less than two hours. 2LT Henshaw’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
[The United Press later hailed the Los Negros landing as "one of the most brilliant maneuvers of the war."]
On 6 April 1944, now-1LT Henshaw was killed in action during mop up operations on Los Negros.
Medals, Awards and Badges:
Distinguished Service Cross; Bronze Star Medal (Merit); Purple Heart;
Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Marvin J. Henshaw (1031248), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against enemy forces on 29 February 1944. Second Lieutenant Henshaw's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 19 (1944)
Memorialization
First Lieutenant Marvin Jesse Henshaw is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines
A cenotaph remembers him at Willow Cemetery,Haskell, Haskell County, Texas
Source: Military Hall of Honor