James Richard Hendrix

Braving fire to capture guns and rescue his wounded comrades

James Richard Hendrix was born on August 20, 1925, in Lepanto, Arkansas. The son of sharecroppers, he left school to help his parents work the fields. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, he completed basic training in Florida before going to Europe.

During World War II he served as a private in the 3d Platoon, Company C, 53d Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division. Near Assenois, Belgium, on December 26, 1944, his unit was advancing to relieve the surrounded American garrison at Bastogne. Hendrix left his half-track under heavy fire and forced the crews of two 88-mm guns to surrender. He then suppressed two machine guns so that two wounded soldiers could be evacuated. Returning to danger once more, he pulled another wounded man from a burning half-track and extinguished the man's burning clothes.

President Harry S. Truman presented his Medal of Honor at the White House on August 23, 1945. Hendrix continued his Army career as a paratrooper, serving during the Korean War and later in Germany. He attained master sergeant before retiring in the mid-1960s. In civilian life he settled in Florida and worked in jobs including truck driving and security.

Hendrix died in Davenport, Florida, on November 14, 2002, and was buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Official Medal of Honor citation: On the night of 26 December 1944, near Assenois, Belgium, he was with the leading element engaged in the final thrust to break through to the besieged garrison at Bastogne when halted by a fierce combination of artillery and small-arms fire. He dismounted from his half-track and advanced against two 88-mm guns, and, by the ferocity of his rifle fire, compelled the guncrews to take cover and then to surrender. Later in the attack he again left his vehicle, voluntarily, to aid two wounded soldiers, helpless and exposed to intense machine-gun fire. Effectively silencing two hostile machine guns, he held off the enemy by his own fire until the wounded men were evacuated. Pvt. Hendrix again distinguished himself when he hastened to the aid of still another soldier who was trapped in a burning half-track. Braving enemy sniper fire and exploding mines and ammunition in the vehicle, he extricated the wounded man and extinguished his flaming clothing, thereby saving the life of his fellow soldier. Pvt. Hendrix, by his superb courage and heroism, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service.