Army Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley, 28, of Prattville, Ala.
Spc Hensley was assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died June 24,2011 in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 15 when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Nicholas Hensley was severely injured in the roadside bomb attack, which happened June 15. He was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and his family was at his bedside when he died.
Hensley, a 28-year-old from Prattville, Ala., was a cavalry scout. He enlisted in the military in 2001 and joined the active component of the Army in November 2005.
Hensley was on his third combat deployment. He previously deployed from Fort Hood, Texas, to Iraq for seven months from May to November 2006 and for 15 months from June 2008 to September 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade from Fort Riley in February 2011.
Hensley earned the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (twice), Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and Combat Action Badge.
Hensley was the 186th Fort Riley soldier killed while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Nicholas Charlie David Hensley, 28, son of retired Air Force Maj. Terry Hensley, formerly of Cawood and a 1972 graduate of James A. Cawood High School.
Hensley was serving with the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division when enemy forces reportedly attacked his unit with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) causing his death. Two other soldiers with Hensley were severely injured.
Hensley, who initially was also severely injured, was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Hensley’s family was at his bedside when he died nine days later on June 24.
Hensley, living in Prattville, Ala., was a cavalry scout, enlisted in the military in 2001 and joined the active component of the U.S. Army in November 2005. This was Hensley’s third combat deployment having previously served seven months in Iraq and Afghanistan in February in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Nick and I played together as children,” said cousin Steven Hatfield, of Harlan. “I remember he wanted to be a magician when we were young and he’d bring his magic tricks to Harlan County to impress us all. Nick will be sadly missed. You realize soldiers are killed in war but when it’s someone near and dear, it really hits home the sacrifices a soldier makes for all of us.”
Hensley’s aunt, Kathy Burns, said ever since Nick was a child he would visit Harlan County with his dad to see his grandparents Charlie and Cora Hensley, along with lots of other relatives.
“He was a wonderful husband and father,” said Burns. “He was so devoted to his wife and children. This is such a great loss for our family. Our hearts are so heavy right now. The one thing that comes to my mind right now is no greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for his brother — that says it all.”
Hensley’s awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (awarded twice), Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Hensley is survived by his parents, Terry and Joan Hensley, of Prattsville, Ala., his wife, Gloria, and three children, twin daughters Nora and Ella, age 6, and Anna Love, age 2. Hensley was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Charlie and Cora Hensley and maternal grandparents David and Charly Swan. Aunts and uncles left to mourn his passing from Harlan County are Edith Powell, Ruby Sutton, Flo and Merle Shell and Kathy and Bob Burns. He also leaves many cousins and friends.
Army Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley was killed in action on 6/24/11.
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