HENRY BODSON

1917 - 2021

BODSON HENRY RICHARD BODSON November 15, 1917 ~ February 19, 2021 Died in Reston, VA Henry Richard Bodson epitomized the true American dream, developing his own "qualities and measures for success" which were "To strive to sustain and improve self, family, society, country, nation and the world." He died peacefully at age 103. Henry was born November 15, 1917, in Poland and immigrated with his family to the U.S. when he was three years old. He received a nomination to the U. S. Military Academy and graduated in 1941. He served in the U.S. Army a total of 40 years: 28 in uniform, earning the rank of Colonel, and 12 for the Dept. of the Army. His Military Occupational Specialty was Artillery, serving in WWII in the Artillery of the 3rd Infantry Division in Italy, France and Germany. While instructing soldiers of the 15th Infantry Regiment, he befriended and taught a young, freckle-faced sergeant named Audie Murphy how to call in artillery. Henry liked to think that his training contributed to newly-promoted Lt. Murphy's employing artillery and machine-gun firepower to repel a German attack in the Colmar Pocket in Alsace, actions that merited Murphy ("To Hell and Back" author) the Medal of Honor. Henry was an artillery battalion commander in Operation Dragoon, code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of France in August 1944, to secure vital Mediterranean ports. He was part of the 3rd Infantry Division that raised "the Stars and Stripes" in Adolf Hitler Platz in Nurnberg, released Holocaust survivors from Dachau and seized Hitler's Eagles Nest above Berchtesgaden. At war's end Henry served with the newly-formed U.S. Constabulary during occupation duty in Germany. He was awarded many honors to include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal and the French "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor. Convinced the future of Field Artillery would be linked to guided missiles, he was accepted as a student officer with the HERMES Project at the General Electric Co. in Schenectady NY in 1948. He began a 12-year immersion in guided missiles, commanding newly-formed missile battalions in White Sands Proving Grounds, NM; Ft. Bliss, TX; and Alaska. Missiles he helped to develop include the CORPORAL, SERGEANT, PERSHIING, HONEST JOHN and LITTLE JOHN. He conceived an original site design in Alaska for the NIKE air defense system. Some of these missiles are displayed in the Air and Space Museum in Chantilly VA. He served the remainder of his military career on the Army Staff in the Pentagon and with the Army Materiel Command providing logistic support to the Army in the field. After retiring from the uniform in 1969, he returned to the Pentagon in Army civilian positions.. While at West Point, Henry met his beloved Belle on a blind date; they were married shortly after his graduation. Sadly, she preceded him in death from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly called "Lou Gehrig's Disease," in 1984. Henry became a primary founder of and contributor to the ALS Association-DC/MD/VA chapter. He also set up a scholarship in her name to prepare candidates for West Point. Upon retirement, Henry enjoyed golfing, hiking and spending time with family. In time, he moved to Falcons Landing, a retirement community in Potomac Falls, VA. There he met and enjoyed the company of a widow of a Navy fighter pilot. During the Army-Navy football game they respectfully cheered, "Go Army" or "Go Navy" to each other. He was recognized at the age of 100 for spending more time at the gym than anyone else. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Lewis (John) and son Richard Bodson (Barbara); four grandchildren: Dawn McCarthy (Dave), Tyson Lewis (Stefanie), Elizabeth Bodson and James Bodson (Maddie); four great-grandchildren: David and Henry McCarthy and Amelia and Reed Lewis. He shall be greatly missed by all who had the honor to know him. He modestly thought that his life and contributions to "Duty, Honor and Country" and to follow-on generations constituted "Mission Accomplished." Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA in the near future. In lieu of flowers, Henry's suggestion was to consider donating to the ALS Association-DC/MD/VA Chapter, 30 West Gude Dr, Suite 150, Rockville, MD 20850 or on-line at: https://bit.ly/3ukDF3v.Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA in the near future. In lieu of flowers, Henry's suggestion was to consider donating to the ALS Association-DC/MD/VA Chapter, 30 West Gude Dr, Suite 150, Rockville, MD 20850 or on-line at: https://bit.ly/3ukDF3v.