We all got to know Archie Hensley during his 20+ years at the Shenandoah Grocery. But what some may not have known was that Archie Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Archie was recently interviewed by Caleb M. Soptelean and recounted several stories that he said he’s never before told anyone. Please read the below article and learn about how Archie credits God for saving him from several harrowing incidents while serving in the war.
Hensley recalls close calls in WWII
Elkton-area veteran, recent retiree shares tales of survival
By Caleb M. Soptelean
Valley Banner
ELKTON Archie Hensley has lived a long life, but believes it's because God saved him from several harrowing incidents while serving in World War II.
Hensley, 90, grew up in the Elkton area and has lived here most of his life.
Last week, Hensley who recently retired from Shenandoah Grocery after working there for 22 years recounted several stories that he said he’s never told anyone before.
Hensley was in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45 and served on motor torpedo boats in Italy and Algeria during World War II.
I’ve had different scary times, he said, tears welling up in his eyes as he paused several times while speaking.
The worst experience was a time when he and his comrades were living in tents in Italy. The sailors in his crew were relocated while Hensley was using the latrine. They came in a hurry, he said. When he came out he was told by a man to grab his gun and go to a beach near Salerno.
If the boat is gone, don’t come back here, Hensley recalled the man saying.
No one was there, Hensley said. I kept waiting at the edge of the water hoping for a boat to come in. It was almost dark.
Just before nightfall, Hensley began looking for a place to hide. After making his way through some forest he saw an LCI amphibious assault ship located off a steep bank. He jumped from the embankment onto the deck. He ate two cans of rations he found stashed in a life raft before curling up under a tarp next to the raft.
During the night he heard a commotion and decided to disembark from the ship. After jumping onto the steep embankment, Hensley inched his way up some 30 feet while clinging to his firearm.
Once at the top, Hensley remembers a hand touched him on the shoulder and told him which way to go. He believes it was God directing him in the darkness. Hensley soon came to an area where some folks were living in tents. He was reunited with his crew 17 days later.
Another time, Hensley was in Algeria when he went into the city of Oran while on leave. A child stole money from his shirt pocket while waving a newspaper in his face, Hensley said. He saw it, however, and retrieved his cash. Shortly afterward a man over 6-feet tall began chasing him with a knife, Hensley said. He was saved when a man on a passing streetcar grabbed him and swept him away from his pursuer, Hensley recalled.
On another occasion, Hensley who said he was the best machine gunner in his outfit volunteered to go a night torpedo run in the Mediterranean Sea. Gunners were chosen by IQ, he said, noting he only received a fifth-grade education. I was right much offended when another man was chosen over him, he said. It saved his life, however, as the torpedo boat the man was on was cut in half by an enemy destroyer that night.
I know it was the hand of God, he said of his salvific experiences.
Sometime after returning to Elkton, Hensley purchased a lithograph print, Christ our Pilot, from a store in Harrisonburg. The print has special meaning to him and has been hanging on his living room wall ever since.
Hensley who lives in a stone house on Mount Pleasant Road that he started building in 1963 was a carpenter by trade after he left the military. He worked all over and helped build a power plant in Louisa County, among other assignments.
Prior to going to work at Shenandoah Grocery, Hensley worked for three years at the Elkton IGA in what is now Shen-Elk Plaza.
It was good being around a lot of people, said Hensley, reflecting on his time in the grocery business. I enjoy and get along with people and treat them right.
The son of Edgar and Mary Hensley was one of 11 children. His only surviving sibling is Pauline Hensley, 84, of Harrisonburg.
Hensley was married to the former Daisy Meadows for a time. The union resulted in three children: Bonnie, Mark and Mary Ellen. Hensley also has a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Article & picture by Caleb M. Soptelean from the October 8, 2015 edition of The Valley Banner.
