Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Robert Hendriks, who served from 2012 to 2019 and deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom.
Robert Hendriks grew up in Locust Valley, New York, and attended Locust Valley High School, where he played lacrosse. Before joining the Marines, Hendriks was a construction worker in Queens. Following graduation, Hendriks joined the Marine Corps in October 2012. Hendriks served with the 25th Marine Regiment, Fourth Marine Division Marine Forces Reserve.
Hendriks received deployment orders in May 2018 as part of the Georgia Deployment Program-Resolute Support Mission in which Marines trained and advised Georgian infantry troops. In March 2019 while deployed in Bagram Airfield, Hendriks celebrated his twenty-fifth birthday. Hendriks served abroad armored mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles as a turret gunner.
On April 8, 2019 Hendriks, Benjamin Hines and Christopher Slutman died when an explosive device went off near Bagram Airfield, a joint U.S. base located near Kabul, Afghanistan. He received a posthumous promotion from corporal to sergeant.
In honor of Hendriks and his service, Locust Valley School District created the United States Marine Sergeant Robert A. Hendriks Memorial Scholarship. The recipient is a senior who plans to enter the military and exemplifies the characteristics Hendriks displayed as a student and Marine.
Hendriks is survived by his parents and brother.
We honor his service.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
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We honor the service of Robert Hendriks.