Hendrix, James R.

President Harry S. Truman, center, is shown shaking hands with Master Sergeant James Hendrix who recently survived a 1,000 foot fall from an Army airplane when his parachute failed to open. In 1945, M/Sgt. Hendrix received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism during World War II. M/Sgt. Hendrix was escorted to the White House by African American evangelist Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux, standing on the left.

Youngest of the group of 28 to receive Congressional Medal of Honor awards at the White House was Staff Sergeant James R. Hendrix of Lepanto, Arkansas. Staff Sergeant Hendrix, shown getting his award from President Harry S. Truman, was 19 years old at the time he earned his medal. The former farm boy wiped out two enemy artillery positions and saved the lives of three of his comrades when his outfit was assigned the task of breaking through the Belgian town of Assenois and relieving the besieged garrison at Bastogne. From: Beth Gore.