Harry Winfield Schenck was born on February 7, 1910, in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Harry Ellsworth Schenck. He attended Bethany College and Carnegie Tech. He was a graduate of the West Point Class of 1933. Commissioned in the Infantry branch, he served in several stateside Infantry assignments from 1933 to 1940 before his first overseas deployment to Fort McKinley in the Philippine Islands, where he was assigned to the 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts).

Maj Schenck was later captured following the fall of the Philippines during World War II, enduring imprisonment at Cabanatuan and Davao POW camps. In December 1944, he was placed aboard the unmarked Japanese transport Enoura Maru for transfer to Japan. He survived two more shipwrecks and died on February 21, 1945, at the Fukuoka POW #3 in Japan. He is now buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, Orange County, New York, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Coast Artillery Corps) Harry Winfield Schenck (ASN: 0-19033), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, in action against the enemy during the defense of Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Schenck, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, valor.militarytimes.com