Dale Henry was born November 5, 1916 in Greenbottom, Cabell County, West Virginia to Truman and Edith Henry. In March, 1934 Dale enlisted as a private in the United States Army and he was stationed at Fort Thomas, Kentucky with Company B of the 10th Infantry Regiment. Dale reenlisted in 1938 and he was sent overseas to the Pacific to serve in the Philippines.
While in the Philippines, Dale served with the 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. It was while he was in this position that Dale received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Dale served with great bravery in the Philippines, and he saw much action on Bataan. However, Dale was taken as a prisoner of war by the enemy when the troops remaining on the islands were forced to surrender in 1942.
Dale was held as a prisoner of war in the Philippines for two years, being imprisoned at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan #1 and #17, Bilibid Prison. Dale was even forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March. While being transported to Japan on the Oryohu Maru, Dale narrowly escaped death when the ship was torpedoed. He was then transferred to the Enoura Maru, and it was on this ship that Dale lost his life on January 9, 1945 when the unmarked ship was torpedoed by an Allied submarine.
Dale was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and his body was buried at sea. In recognition of his honorable service in World War II, and for his ultimate sacrifice, Dale Henry's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines, and Dale's was one of the original names inscribed on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial.