Henderson, John Mckenzie Jr
Male
Verified Private John Mckenzie Henderson Jr., 21, of Columbus, Georgia, was a U.S. Army Ranger assigned to HHC, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was killed in action on August 4, 2005, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Their Story
John Mckenzie Henderson Jr. was a 21-year-old soldier from Columbus, Georgia. He served as a Private (PV2) in the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment, based out of Fort Benning, Georgia. The regiment is a specialized light infantry unit frequently deployed for direct-action missions.
On August 4, 2005, Henderson was killed during combat operations in Jalalabad, a city in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. According to the Department of Defense, his unit was engaged by enemy small-arms fire during the operation. No further specifics of the engagement were publicly released.
Henderson's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2005, the conflict had entered a phase of intensified counter-insurgency operations. Insurgent forces, including the Taliban, had regrouped and were conducting attacks across the country's eastern and southern regions.
The Department of Defense announced Henderson's death on August 6, 2005. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Private First Class. His awards reportedly included the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
He is memorialized on the 75th Ranger Regiment's roll of honor and at the Global War on Terrorism memorial at Fort Benning. His name is also inscribed on the Memorial Wall at Columbus State University, which honors alumni and students who died in military service.
Explore Further
John Mckenzie Henderson Jr. was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
