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Whittlesey, Henry C. (0358386): Difference between revisions
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'''Henry C. Whittlesey''' ( | '''Henry C. Whittlesey''' (1906–1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 3. | ||
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== 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. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan | * To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan | ||
== Technical record == | == Technical record == | ||
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* 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) | |||
Revision as of 03:52, 26 August 2026
| Henry C. Whittlesey | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1906 |
| Died | 1945 |
| Nativity | United States |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Arm / service | Military Intelligence |
| ASN | 0358386 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 3 (2 November – 23 December 1942) |
| Section | H |
|
| Distinguished Service Cross |
- Killed in action. Listed in By The Numbers/Awards (from Ritchie Boy Secrets by Beverley Driver Eddy).
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Henry C. Whittlesey (1906–1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 3.
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.
Research notes
- To Yale. See: Mission to Yenan
Technical record
| 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 |
Sources
- Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
- 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)