Army Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley

Died June 24, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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28, of Prattville, Ala.; assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died June 24, in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 15 when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

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Fallen soldier buried in Texas cemetery

By Don Fletcher
Prattville (Ala.) Progress

Spc. Nicholas C.D. Hensley of Prattville, Ala., who died recently from injuries he suffered June 15 during an attack by hostile forces in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, was buried July 6 in a Texas national cemetery.

According to the “Freedom Remembered” website, Hensley — who graduated from Prattville High School in 2001 — was laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. His death stemmed from the effects of an improvised explosive device that was used by enemy troops who launched the attack.

Hensley, 28, was serving his third tour of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was scheduled for leave in six weeks. He died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, with his family by his side.

Hensley was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kan. His wife, Gloria Hensley, survives, as do his parents, Terry and Joan Hensley, and his children, Nora, Ella and Anna Hensley. Several other relatives, including his parents-in-law, Nicholas and Susan Mills, also survive.

Teresa Lee, public information officer for the city of Prattville, said that flags on municipal buildings would be lowered to half-staff July 6 in memory of the community’s third casualty in the global war on terrorism. The banners will remain at that position until sundown.

“Specialist Hensley died honorably, defending our country,” said Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. “The citizens of the city of Prattville join me in remembering the contributions of this great American. We extend our prayers and sympathies to the Hensley and Mills families.”

During his Army career, Hensley was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal and also earned a Purple Heart, an Army Achievement Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal and a Combat Action Badge.