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Whittlesey, Henry C. (0358386): Difference between revisions

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|surname=Whittlesey
|surname=Whittlesey
|first=Henry
|first=Henry
|middle=C.
|middle=Clark
|class_section=H
|class_section=H
|class_rank=1st Lt
|class_rank=1st Lt
|class_branch=MI
|birth_year=1906
|birth_year=1906
|death_year=1945
|death_year=1945
|nativity=US
|nativity=United States
|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
|certificate=365
|certificate=365
Line 17: Line 16:
|class_display=3
|class_display=3
|awards=Distinguished Service Cross
|awards=Distinguished Service Cross
|awards_grid=Distinguished Service Cross<br />
|awards_grid=Distinguished Service Cross
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.png
|awards_extra=Killed in action. Listed in [[By The Numbers/Awards]] (from ''Ritchie Boy Secrets'' by Beverley Driver Eddy).
|awards_extra=Killed in action. Listed in [[By The Numbers/Awards]] (from ''Ritchie Boy Secrets'' by Beverley Driver Eddy).
|birth_date=10 August 1906
|birth_place=Chongqing, China
|arm_or_service=Military Intelligence
|rank_final=First Lieutenant
|death_date=21 January 1945
|specialty=Photo Interpretation
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''Henry C. Whittlesey''' (1906–1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 3.
'''[[Whittlesey, Henry C. (0358386)|Henry Clark Whittlesey]]''' (10 August 1906 – 21 January 1945) was a Chongqing-born Ritchie Boy (Class 3) killed in action and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Captain Henry Clark Whittlesey was a Ritchie Boy, who never made it home. Henry Clark Whittlesey was born August 10, 1906 in Chongqing, China. Henry was one of six kids born to his parents, Roger and Annie Withey Whittlesey. Both were China Inland missionaries. Henry learned Chinese as a boy growing up. He went to Chefoo Schools in China through 1918. Then Germantown, Pennsylvania Public Schools from 1918-1913. He was enrolled at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania from 1924-1928. Living in Philadelphia, he worked as a journalist. From July 1944 to 21 January 1945, Captain Henry Clark Whittlesey was serving with an unspecified unit of the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India Theater. During that time, Captain Whittlesey, fluent in the Chinese language, was on a top-secret mission (the Dixie Mission) in Japanese-occupied Shannxi (Shensi) province in northwest China. On 21 January Captain Whittlesey (in civilian clothes), along with a communist photographer-guide, visited a village close to Japanese-controlled territory. Although the Chinese had assured the men that the Japanese had abandoned the village, Japanese snipers remained in hiding. The snipers mortally wounded both Captain Whittlesey and the photographer. Captain Whittlesey’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. He had training at the Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, Maryland, as well as the Yale University Chinese School in 1943. He earned the following: Medals and Awards Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis) The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Henry C. Whittlesey (ASN: 0-358386), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces during World War II. Captain Whittlesey's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Henry Clark Whittlesey was born on 10 August 1906 in Chongqing, China, one of six children of missionaries Roger and Annie Withey Whittlesey. He attended the Chefoo Schools in China through 1918 and later Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania (1924–1928).
 
He trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 3) and served as a first lieutenant in military intelligence. He was killed in action on 21 January 1945 and received the Distinguished Service Cross.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan
* To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan
* Dixie Mission; death 2 February 1945 near Fouping (accounts differ)
* Dixie Mission / AGAS; death 21 January 1945 per Gross Dixie Mission note (other sources give 2 February 1945)
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
Whittlesey_Henry_C_0358386_portrait.jpg|Family memorial biographical sheet for Henry Clark Whittlesey (text document — not a portrait)
</gallery>
</div>


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
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| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 10 August 1906 — Born in Chongqing, China.
* 1918 / 1924–1928 — Chefoo Schools; Lafayette College.
* Camp Ritchie Class 3 — Military intelligence training.
* 21 January 1945 — Killed in action; Distinguished Service Cross.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:Whittlesey_Henry_C_0358386_portrait.jpg|Henry Clark Whittlesey (RB Archive memorial packet)]]
* RB Archive family / memorial packet for Henry Clark Whittlesey (FL1274643)
* Henry C. Whittlesey, ''Sidelights of the War'', ed. Ruth Schroeder (New York: Transfer Art, 2006)
* Carolle J. Carter, ''Mission to Yenan: American Liaison with the Chinese Communists 1944–1947'' (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1997)
* Dan Gross research archive (miscellaneous timeline-adjacent documents; not uploaded): ''Henry C. Whittlesey note.doc''
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-26 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-26 (1 post)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Henry C. Whittlesey for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Whittlesey, Henry C. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HENRY C. WHITTLESEY.doc)

Latest revision as of 20:30, 16 September 2026

Henry Clark Whittlesey
Personal details
Born10 August 1906
Chongqing, China
Died21 January 1945
NativityUnited States
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceMilitary Intelligence
ASN0358386
RankFirst Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 3 (2 November – 23 December 1942)
SectionH
SpecialtyPhoto Interpretation
Awards and honors
Distinguished Service Cross
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Henry Clark Whittlesey (10 August 1906 – 21 January 1945) was a Chongqing-born Ritchie Boy (Class 3) killed in action and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Henry Clark Whittlesey was born on 10 August 1906 in Chongqing, China, one of six children of missionaries Roger and Annie Withey Whittlesey. He attended the Chefoo Schools in China through 1918 and later Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania (1924–1928).

He trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 3) and served as a first lieutenant in military intelligence. He was killed in action on 21 January 1945 and received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan
  • Dixie Mission; death 2 February 1945 near Fouping (accounts differ)
  • Dixie Mission / AGAS; death 21 January 1945 per Gross Dixie Mission note (other sources give 2 February 1945)

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Family memorial biographical sheet for Henry Clark Whittlesey (text document — not a portrait)
    Family memorial biographical sheet for Henry Clark Whittlesey (text document — not a portrait)

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 39
Class_ASN 358386
Class_Name WHITTLESEY, Henry C.
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 10 August 1906 — Born in Chongqing, China.
  • 1918 / 1924–1928 — Chefoo Schools; Lafayette College.
  • Camp Ritchie Class 3 — Military intelligence training.
  • 21 January 1945 — Killed in action; Distinguished Service Cross.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Henry Clark Whittlesey (RB Archive memorial packet)
  • RB Archive family / memorial packet for Henry Clark Whittlesey (FL1274643)
  • Henry C. Whittlesey, Sidelights of the War, ed. Ruth Schroeder (New York: Transfer Art, 2006)
  • Carolle J. Carter, Mission to Yenan: American Liaison with the Chinese Communists 1944–1947 (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1997)
  • Dan Gross research archive (miscellaneous timeline-adjacent documents; not uploaded): Henry C. Whittlesey note.doc
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-26 (1 post)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Henry C. Whittlesey for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Whittlesey, Henry C. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HENRY C. WHITTLESEY.doc)
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