class.  He celebrated his 19^th birthday while the ship was moored in Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island, just two days before she left port for the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte.

From December 25, 1944, to February 10, 1945, the KIDD underwent a major overhaul at Mare Island, California.  During this time, Virgil returned home on leave to visit his family.  His mother recounted how he spent his whole leave walking around the house with his baby brother Joe perched atop is boots, teaching him how to walk.  His brother Charles Edward drove him to the bus station at the end of his liberty.  It was the last time the brothers would ever see each other.

Upon his return from leave, the KIDD sailed for Iwo Jima and later Okinawa, where Henson was killed in action on April 11 during a kamikaze attack.  Virgil was buried at sea at 1030 the following day on Thursday, April 12, 1945, along with his shipmates while the KIDD was en route back to Ulithi Atoll from the front lines.

On August 30, 1996, during a reunion of Destroyer Squadron 48 (DESRON 48), Virgil's family—mother Evie, sister Patricia, and brothers Charles Edward, Joe, and William—was present for the dedication of an exhibit featuring the photos of the thirty-eight sailors killed in the April 11^th kamikaze attack.  At the conclusion of a memorial service for these fallen shipmates, Mrs. Evie Henson was presented with a 48-star U.S. flag that had been flown from the KIDD in memory of her son's noble sacrifice.

This biography was compiled through the efforts of former KIDD crew member Mr. Richard E. Ammon, Jr., and the entire Henson family.

**Copyright 1997-2011 by Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission**