Henry F. Warner

Corporal, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Corporal Henry F. Warner (23 August 1923 - 21 December 1944) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.

Henry F. Warner was born on 23 August 1923 in Troy, NC; he also joined the Army from his birth city. On 20 December 1944, he was serving as a Corporal in the Antitank Company of the 2nd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. During a battle that day near Bütgenbach, Belgium, Warner continued to man his anti-tank gun through the night and into the next morning, despite intense fire from the approaching German tanks. He successfully disabled several enemy tanks before being killed in action. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Antitank Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, 20-21 December 1944.

Citation: Serving as 57-mm. antitank gunner with the 2d Battalion, he was a major factor in stopping enemy tanks during heavy attacks against the battalion position near Dom Butgenbach, Belgium, on 20-21 December 1944. In the first attack, launched in the early morning of the 20th, enemy tanks succeeded in penetrating parts of the line. Cpl. Warner, disregarding the concentrated cannon and machinegun fire from 2 tanks bearing down on him, and ignoring the imminent danger of being overrun by the infantry moving under tank cover, destroyed the first tank and scored a direct and deadly hit upon the second. A third tank approached to within 5 yards of his position while he was attempting to clear a jammed breach lock. Jumping from his gun pit, he engaged in a pistol duel with the tank commander standing in the turret, killing him and forcing the tank to withdraw. Following a day and night during which our forces were subjected to constant shelling, mortar barrages, and numerous unsuccessful infantry attacks, the enemy struck in great force on the early morning of the 21st. Seeing a Mark IV tank looming out of the mist and heading toward his position, Cpl. Warner scored a direct hit. Disregarding his injuries, he endeavored to finish the loading and again fire at the tank whose motor was now aflame, when a second machinegun burst killed him. Cpl. Warner's gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty contributed materially to the successful defense against the enemy attacks.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Honors

The current Warner Barracks complex was appropriated in 1950 by U.S. forces and re-named in honor of Cpl. Henry F. Warner.

Death and Burial

Corporal Henry F. Warner was killed in action on 21 December 1944. He is buried at Southside Cemetery in his hometown of Troy, NC, in Lot 813.