Mrs. DeLong Is Given
Star for Son’s Gallantry
Mrs. Maye DeLong, 716 Berich avenue, was presented Thursday with a silver star won by her son, Sgt. Henry F. DeLong, who was listed as killed in action at the fall of Corregidor in the Philippines.
The posthumous award was announced by the war department, and the presentation made at the DeLong home by First Lt. Henry J. McGee, commanding officer of the army recruiting station in the federal building.
The citation reads:
“Sgt. Henry F. DeLong, a member of the 21st pursuit squadron serving on the beach defense as infantry, on 7 February 1942, displayed gallantry in action against the enemy at Quinan point, Bataan, Philippines islands.
“After three consecutive days of fighting that drove the enemy onto the beach, he volunteered with five other men to attack, from landing boats, enemy forces which had taken cover beneath the cliffs and in caves.
“Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant DeLong, with five other men, raked the enemy positions and cave entrances with machine gun fire while fully exposed to enemy aircraft and small arms fire from the beach.”
DeLong was reported missing in action May 7, 1942, and was officially listed as killed June 9, 1944, by the war department which made an award of the Purple Heart at the same time.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, June 28, 1946, Page 3
Henry Franklin DeLong was born Apr. 6, 1919 to Henry and Maye Jensen DeLong. He died May 31, 1942 and is buried in Keokuk National Cemetery, Keokuk, IA.
Sgt. DeLong served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 21st Pursuit Squadron.
Source: ancestry.com
