Henry Courtney

Henry Alexius Courtney Jr.
Henry A. Courtney Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
Born	(1916-01-06)January 6, 1916 Duluth, Minnesota
Died	May 15, 1945(1945-05-15) (aged 29) KIA at Okinawa, Japan
Place of burial	initially the 6th Marine Division Cemetery on Okinawa later Calvary Cemetery, in Duluth, Minnesota
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1940-1945
Rank	Major
Unit	22nd Marine Regiment
Battles/wars	Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of Okinawa
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Henry Alexius Courtney Jr. (January 6, 1916–May 15, 1945) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps Reserve during World War II and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Courtney was born January 6, 1916, in Duluth, Minnesota. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and his law degree from Loyola University Law School in Chicago. He was admitted to practice law in Illinois and Minnesota in 1940, shortly after joining his father's law firm in Duluth.

He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in February 1940 and in March of that year was placed in command of the Duluth unit of the Marine Corps Reserve, which was mobilized and sent to San Diego for training. He then served in Iceland for ten months.

At Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, he participated in the first United States offensive of World War II, commanding a company of the 1st Marine Division.

His next combat action was the Battle of Okinawa, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. While serving as executive officer of a battalion of the 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division on Okinawa, he was killed in action after exhibiting great courage and self-sacrifice leading a successful night attack against enemy positions on Sugar Loaf Hill 14–May 15, 1945. He was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart for wounds received in that campaign.