Veteran Information

Branch

Rank

Private First Class

Biography

JAMES LYNN HENK, THE SON OF CARL & DELVERNA (JAHNKE) HENK OF SWANTON, NE WAS BORN NOVEMBER 1, 1946. JIM WAS MORTALLY WOUNED (KIA) ON MARCH 21, 1968 DURING FIGHTING AT DAK TO IN VIET NAM. JIM ENTERED THE ARMY IN MAY 1967 AND SERVED WITH COMPANY A, THIRD BATTALION, EIGHTH INFANTRY, THIRD PLATOON, FOURTH INFANTRY DIVISON. HE WAS SENT TO VIET NAM IN OCTOBER 1967. JIM EARNED THE - GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL; THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL; THE VIETANMESE CAMAIGN MEDAL (GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIET NAM); THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN’S BADGE, AND THE RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP BADGE. HE WAS AWARDED ‘POTHUMOUSLY’ THE BONZE STAR AND PURPLE HEART. THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE TO HIS PARENTS AND FAMILYY IN SWANTON AT A PUBLIC CEREMONY AT THE SWANTON LEGION BY MAJOR THURMAN BRASHER. “FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ARMED HOSTILE FORCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM” ‘THE BONZE STAR MEDAL IS PRESENTED POSTHUMOUSLY TO PFC. JAMES L HENK.’ “PRIVATE HENK DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHILE SERVING AS AN INFANTRYMAN WITH COMPANY 'A', 3RD BATTALION, 8TH INFANTRY, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION FROM OCT 1967 TO MARCH 1968” “UPON JOINING HIS UNIT, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HENK DEMONSTRATED A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF COMBAT INFANTRY TACTICS. THIS COUPLED WITH HIS ABILITY TO ADJUST WELL TO CONSTANTLY CHANGING CONDITIONS AND SITUATIONS AS WELL AS INHERENT DANGER MADE HIM A VALUABLE ASSET TO HIS UNIT.” WHETHER SERVING AS A POINT MAN ON A SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSION, MANNING A LISTENING POST, OR PARTICIPATING IN A COMBAT ASSAULT, PVT. HENK SOUGHT TO MEET HIGH PERSONAL STANDARDS.” HIS CHEERFUL ATTITUDE AND CONCERN FOR HIS FELLOW COMRADES EARNED HIM THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HIS ENTIRE COMPANY. ON MARCH 21, 1968, COMPANY ‘A’ AIR ASSAULTED A STRATEGIC HILL SOUTHWEST OF DAK TO. PFC. HENK WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AS HE POSITIONED HIMSELF FOR SECURITY OBSERVATION.” JIM WAS A GRADUATE OF WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL. JIM ATTENDED ‘BOYS STATE’ IN 1964. HE LETTERED ALL 4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL & TRACK. JIM WAS NAMED TO THE “ALL CLOVERLEAF CONFERENCE” BASKETBALL TEAM FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW. JIM ALSO RECEIVED ‘HONORABLE MENTION’ STATE FOOTBALL IN 8 MAN FOOTBALL. JIM ATTENDED FAIRBURY JUNIOR COLLEGE FOR 1 ½ YEARS. JIM’S AMBITION UPON RETURNING FROM THE SERVICE, WAS TO FINISH COLLEGE AND RESUME FARMING. JIM WAS A PROUD AMRICAN AND SOLDIER PROUD TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY, ULTIMATELY GIVING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, HIS LIFE, FOR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY THAT WE ALL CHERISH AND ENJOY. JIM CAME FROM A VERY PATRIOTIC FAMILY. JIM’S OLDEST BROTHER, LYLE E. HENK, SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS UNTIL RETIRING AS A CYSGT. LYLE ALSO SERVED IN VIET NAM SERVING TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN THE WAR ZONE. JIM WAS SURVIVED BY HIS PARENTS; BROTHERS LYLE AND ALLEN; AND SISTER BARBARA. JIM REACHED THE AGE OF 21 YEARS, 4 MONTHS, AND 20 DAYS. JIM IS BURIED IN THE FAIRVIEW CEMETERY AT WESTERN,