Medal of Honor Monday: Army Capt. Frederick F. Henry
Sept. 1, 2025 | By Katie Lange
During the early stages of the Korean War, Army Capt. Frederick Funston Henry bravely took the full force of an enemy attack alone, allowing his platoon to survive. For his courage and selfless sacrifice, Henry was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Henry was born on Sept. 23, 1919, in Vian, Oklahoma, to James and Ida Mae Henry, the third of 13 children. His parents named him after Army Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston, a Medal of Honor recipient who served during the Philippine-American War.
The family later moved three hours west to Clinton, Oklahoma, where Henry grew up. He enlisted in the Army in September 1940. Five of his brothers also served in World War II, and two continued their military service in Korea.
Henry served in the 6th Army during World War II and earned a battlefield commission to second lieutenant while serving in the Pacific Theater in 1945. After the war, he was stationed in Germany, where he met Lavon “Bonnie” Southam, a combat nurse. They married and had two children, Frederick Jr. and Sharon.
When the Korean War began, Henry’s unit, Company F of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, was among the first to deploy to the peninsula in the summer of 1950.
On Sept. 1, 1950, the 33-year-old first lieutenant led his platoon on a strategic ridge near Andong, South Korea, when a much larger enemy force attacked. Heavy mortar and artillery fire quickly disrupted the platoon’s formation. To maintain order, Henry left his foxhole, moving among his men and directing them to hold their positions and return fire.
Inspired by his actions, the platoon reorganized its defenses and fired back, slowing the enemy advance. Communications were cut, leaving Henry uncertain if the main line of resistance remained intact.
“There were bullets and shells falling all around,” said Army Sgt. Richard Siman, a member of Henry’s platoon. “Our ammunition was running low.”
Despite serious injuries, Henry stayed at his position while ordering the wounded to evacuate. He collected their weapons and ammunition to continue the fight alone and instructed the remaining platoon members to withdraw.
Henry was last seen firing all available weapons at the enemy. His Medal of Honor citation credits him with inflicting approximately 50 enemy casualties before running out of ammunition, after which his position was overrun. His actions saved his platoon and delayed the enemy, allowing the main line of resistance to regroup.
Initially listed as missing in action, Henry was officially declared dead on Dec. 31, 1953, and posthumously promoted to captain. His name is engraved on the Wall of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. His remains have not been recovered, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
On Jan. 9, 1951, Henry’s widow received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman at a White House ceremony. Four other soldiers were also honored posthumously that day.
Henry’s legacy continues. In May 1960, a U.S. camp in current-day Army Garrison Daegu was named Camp Henry in his honor. A memorial in his hometown of Vian was dedicated in 2004. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2013, and a nearby highway was renamed after him in 2014.
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