THOMAS A HENSON, MD
MAJOR ARMY WWII
PACIFIC/NEW GUINEA
MAJOR ARMY WWII
PACIFIC/NEW GUINEA
Section: 3
Row: 5
Service Branch, Rank
Army
MAJ
Theater(s) / Campaign(s) / Operations(s)
WWII PACIFIC/NEW GUINEA
Period of Service
unavailable
Biography
Thomas A. Henson was the oldest of six brothers. All six Henson brothers loved basketball and played on a family basketball team, winning the first statewide tournament in Ahoskie in 1935. Coached by their father, a NC high school principal, the team won again in 1938 and 1939 in Wilson. T
Thomas and four of his brothers attended the University of NC at Chapel Hill. He completed his medical degree in 1937 from Temple Medical College.
Thomas served in the U.S. Army as a medical doctor, holding the rank of Captain during World War II. He served in portable surgical hospital that won a Presidential Citation for its work in the Papuan Campaign in New Ginea. Portable Surgical Hospitals (PSHs) played a critical and unique role in the Papuan campaign by providing forward, life-saving surgical care in extremely difficult and rugged jungle terrain where larger, less mobile hospitals could not operate. Later, he saw service in the Salamaua-Lae Campaign.
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