THE
BOXHOLDER
JOURNAL of the POCONO PLATEAU ©2021, All Rights Reserved
VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1
May 27–June 9, 2021
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Memorial Day……
Remembering the heroes of Iwo Jima by Rick Bodenschatz
firmly dug in. Extracting the Japanese was extremely danLike so many returning gerous, so Lt. Henning ordered home from combat, “Dad said grenades and flamethrowers little about what happened to defeat the Japanese in their on Iwo. I came to a realizafortifications. During that process, 18 men were lost from his tion that maybe what had to company in just one morning. be done on that island was There is little doubt that those, just something you didn’t talk and others lost in battle, were about.” remembered by Mike for years Jim Henning refers to his to come. father, Charles “Mike” HenDays later, Charlie Company ning of Pocono Lake, who was was facing enemy forces that a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. were holding a strategic hill. Marine Corps during the battle Marines advance The Japanese were launching of Iwo Jima. Lieutenant on Iwo Jima mortars and strafing the Henning experienced the roic combat actions for both his Americans with machine gun worst in that famous battle of fire. After a number of unsucWorld War II in the South Pa- survival and that of his men. By the beginning of 1945, cessful attempts, Lt. Henning cific, in February of 1945. American and allied forces led his platoon to the top. The In honor or his father’s serwere drawing close to the capture of the Japanese vice, Jim Henning has donatJapanese mainland. The island fortification netted cannons and ed a recently published book, Flamethrower by Bryan Mark of Iwo Jima was in their path. other deadly weapons, and left It was of strategic importance, dozens of the enemy killed in Rigg, for the Local History since there were two air strips action. Although Lt. Henning Section of Clymer Library in needed for American bombing was wounded in the leg, he did Pocono Pines. In Rigg’s account of the bloody fighting on raids and air support, as well not stop fighting until victory as positioning for logistical Iwo Jima, he profiles a numwas won. ber of key Marines who played supply for the ground troops. The capture of that enemy ema part in the American victory. This was no secret to the Japplacement was of such imporanese military. They defended tance that Lt. Henning’s leaderLieutenant Mike Henning’s it with 21,000 ground troops role in the battle is detailed. ship, and his hands-on fighting, holed-up in caves, tunnels and earned him a recommendation Prior to the war, the Pocono ground fortifications, support- for the Congressional Medal Lake native attended the ed by hidden artillery. State Teachers College of East of Honor. Ultimately, he was Mike was a Platoon Leader in awarded the Silver Star for Valor Stroudsburg, graduating in May Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, in combat and the Purple Heart of 1943 with a degree in Physical Education. Mike’s athletic for his wounded leg. 21st Marines of the 3rd Marine abilities served him well in the Mike Henning survived Division when the Marines Marine Corps. Without doubt, World War II. When the landed on Iwo Jima. During those abilities aided in his heKorean Conflict broke out, he the battle, the enemy was
Major Mike Henning with wife, Jeanette, at a Memorial Day ceremony. was called to active duty as a Captain. His role was to train troops for their deployment to Korea. Mike left the United States Marine Corps as a Major. Continuing his leadership in civilian life, Mike served as US Postmaster for Pocono Lake. In addition, he operated the general store in Pocono Lake and stayed active in the community and his church. Mike passed away at age 89 in 2010. Mike never forgot his men.
He served as the Post Commander of the Pocono Lake American Legion, and faithfully attended the community’s Memorial Day ceremonies at the Pocono Lake Cemetery every year and participated in the American Legion’s Memorial Day parade. Mike, thank you for your service to our country, and thank you to all who have sacrificed your lives for our freedom!