DOB/DOD: November 22, 1885 (Hartford, CT) – August 16, 1929 (New Orleans, LA); 43 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Hattie Kesler (1877-?) on December 2, 1916, in Detroit, Michigan
FAMILY: Born to John B. (1852-1937) and Elizabeth J. “Eliza” Breen Henrechon (1861-1940). Three brothers, John F. (1888-1947), Joseph L. [WWI and WWII veteran] (1891-1978), and Arthur E. [WWI veteran] (1893-1944). Four sisters, Elizabeth C. “Lizzie” Henrechon Murphy (1883-1938), MaryAnn A. “May” Henrechon Dowd (1890-1970), Esther E. Henrechon Kennedy (1895-1963), Ruth M. “Emma” Henrechon Christie (1897-1976), Philomena E. (1899-1915), Madeline D. Henrechon Hotchkiss (1901-1952), and Florence L. (1906-1928).
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Philippine Insurrection (1911)
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Navy
ASSIGNED TO: U.S.S. Pampanga
GENERAL ORDERS: War Department, General Orders No. 138 (December 13, 1911)
AGE ON DATE OF EVENT: 25
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Machinist’s Mate Second Class George Francis Henrechon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while attached to the U.S.S. Pampanga. Machinist’s Mate Second Class Henrechon was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, Philippine Islands, on 24 September 1911. Ordered to take station within 100 yards of a group of nipa huts close to the trail, Henrechon advanced and stood guard as the leader and his scout party first searched the surrounding deep grasses, then moved into the open area before the huts. Instantly, enemy Moros opened point-blank fire on the exposed men, and approximately twenty Moros rushed the small group from inside the huts and from other concealed positions. Henrechon, responding to the calls for help, was one of the first on the scene. When his rifle jammed after the first shot, he closed in with a rifle, using it as a club to break the stock over the head of the nearest Moro, and then, drawing his pistol, started in pursuit of the fleeing outlaws. Machinist’s Mate Second Class Henrechon’s aggressive charging of the enemy under heavy fire and in the face of great odds contributed materially to the success of the engagement.
From The Indianapolis News January 20, 1912
MEDALS OF HONOR AWARDED TO MEN WHO FOUGHT OUTLAWS TO FINISH
General Order Received From Navy Department Tells of Acts of Heroism on the Island of Basilan – Ensign, Dying, Said “Get on the Job, McGuire.”
In a general order received from the Navy Department by the naval recruiting station in this city, an announcement is made of the awarding of a Medal of Honor and a gratuity of $100 each to Jacob Volz, a Carpenter’s Mate Third Class; Fred Henry McGuire, Hospital Apprentice; Bolden Reush Harrison, Seaman; George Francis Henrechon, Machinist’s Mate Second Class, and John Hugh Catherwood, Ordinary Seaman, “for their extraordinary heroism while operating against outlaws on the island of Basilan, Philippine Islands, September 24, 1911.” The order does not give the names of the cities of which these men were residents before enlistment.
The order sets forth an extract from the report of the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Pampanga, which, though brief, is full of action. It says that Ensign Hovey left his camp at Tablas at about 3:30 a.m., September 24, 1911, to act in conjunction with Lieutenant A. Cody, P.S. [Philippine Service], in the capture of Mundang. He had with him a Yacan guide, Private Nisperes of the Thirty-fourth Company, P.S., as an interpreter, and the five men of his own detachment to whom the medals and the money have been awarded.
Continuing, the report says: “At about 6 a.m. on the morning of September 24, 1911, the guide discovered several shacks or nipa houses ahead near the trail. This was the rancheria of Lapurap. Ensign Hovey went forward with the guide and the scout soldier to reconnoiter, leaving Volz, Catherwood, Harrison, Henrechon, and McGuire in the trail about three hundred yards in the rear. Ensign Hovey then sent the guide back to bring up ten more men. Harrison and Volz answered this call. In about five minutes, Ensign Hovey came back and ordered McGuire, Henrechon, and Catherwood to take station within one hundred yards of the houses and allow no one to get past them. Ensign Hovey then went up to the houses accompanied by the guide, the scout solder, and Catherwood. Before they reached the houses, this party went off the trail into the cogon grass for about fifteen steps as if in search of something. They then retraced their steps and halted in front of the houses. Ensign Hovey had no sooner halted than the Moros opened fire. As soon as the first shot was fired, the Moros charged from the cogon grass, from inside the house, and from behind trees. Ensign Hovey emptied his .45 caliber revolver at the attacking Moros. The number of Moros attacking was estimated at from fifteen to twenty.
“Ensign Hovey called for help, and Henrechon, McGuire, Volz, and Harrison advanced to the rescue. Henrechon and McGuire arrived on the scene first and found Ensign Hovey, Catherwood, and the scout soldier on the ground but still fighting. The guide was killed at the first volley. McGuire emptied his trifle and then sprang in with a clubbed rifle.”
“Henrechon’s rifle jammed after the first shot, and he also clubbed his rifle, breaking the stock over the head of the nearest Moro, and then drawing his pistol, he started in pursuit of one of the fleeing Moros. Harrison and Volz had, meanwhile, arrived on the scene, firing with a shotgun and rifle as they charged. Harrison, with a double-barreled shotgun, blew off the heads of three of the attacking Moros, and Volz accounted for several more. Our men rallied around the bodies of Ensign Hovey, Catherwood, and the scout soldier, and the Moros fled through the high cogon grass. On the arrival of Volz and Harrison on the field, McGuire, the hospital apprentice, having fired his last shot, went to Ensign Hovey’s assistance to give him first aid; the last words of Ensign Hovey were, “Get on the job, McGuire.”
“The hospital apprentice, seeing that Ensign Hovey was dead, went to the assistance of Catherwood and the scout solder. The hospital apprentice had finished rendering first aid to Catherwood when the company of scouts arrived. The sanitary private with the company assisted in caring for the wounded. There were no wounded among the attacking Moros, all on the field being dead.
“The heroism and coolness shown by our men cannot be too highly commended and should receive recognition from the department. J.H. Catherwood, Ordinary Seaman, though severely wounded, did all he could to beat off the Moros attacking Ensign Hovey. F.H. McGuire, Hospital Apprentice, though wounded himself, gave immediate aid to the wounded and undoubtedly saved the lives of the scout soldier and Catherwood. The coolness and bravery shown by Henrechon, Volz, and Harrison in charging against the odds cannot be praised in too strong terms.
I recommend that Catherwood, McGuire, Volz, Harrison, and Henrechon be given a Medal of Honor. The scout soldier, Private Nisperes, had his right arm shot off above the elbow and was knocked down. He dug the stump of his arm in the ground and kept firing his rifle. A flag, three guns, and numerous spears and knives were captured from the enemy.”
Buried in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, Connecticut; Section F, Grave 430. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
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