Honor Mission
Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey
US Army - WW II
KIA - Repatriation
Multi-City, NY - 08/21/2025
***UPDATED 18 August 2025 - 16:40 hrs***
A Primary Staging Point has been added
in Region 2. See details below.
Please note that a 2nd Region 3 Staging Point
has been added in the Special Information section
below.
Mission applies to the following Region(s):
Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5
About the Mission:
The family of US Army Private Harland J. Hennessey has invited Patriot Guard Riders to join in the escort of his remains back home. Harland was born on September 1, 1918 and grew up in Boonville, NY. He attended Boonville High School and participated on the track and field team, played Soccer and appeared in school musicals and plays. While attending high school, Harland was employed by Stanley Ohm Oil Co., Boonville and later was employed at Sears Gas Station in Rome. He was drafted into the US Army in May, 1941.
Harland was a Private in the US Army's 803rd Engineer Battalion (Aviation), and trained at Fort Jay and Fort Belvoir, in Virginia. By December, 1941, he landed at Fort Stotsenburg, Philippines. On December 8, 1941, one day following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese bombed Clark Airfield and on that day, World War II began for the United States. The American and allied troops fought until they were forced to surrender by the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942. Soon afterwards, Pvt. Hennessey became part of the infamous Bataan Death March, with 12,000 US and 63,000 Filipino Troops, who were marched by the Japanese Army for 65 torturous miles, finally arriving at Cabanatuan Prison Camp, just north of Luzon. This prison camp contained 8,000 captured Allied Soldiers, and over time, 2,500 prisons of war died there. Private Hennessey died on November 1, 1942, from wet Beri Beri.
His remains have been recovered and identified, and he is returning to his home town after all these years. Private Hennessey is the namesake of the Harland J. Hennessey VFW Post 5538 in Boonville, NY. Please join me in honoring this hero who proudly served his country, and suffered at the hands of his enemy, for his final farewell.
Portions of the above narrative are contained in Pvt. Hennessey's obituary, available for viewing online by clicking here
Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:
UPDATED
08/21/2025 at 04:00 pm
Staging Location:
Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport
1200 Brooks Ave.
Rochester, NY 14624
Gate #5, near fuel depot
Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:
John McMullen
Special Information:
Region 2 members will meet at the Rochester airport for the arrival of Private Hennessey's remains. We will stage at Gate #5 (near the fuel depot) and will be shuttled to the plane where we will stand an honorable flag line for the dignified transfer. We will then stand another flag line outside of the tarmac as the hearse passes by.
Please bring your clean 3x5 US or Army Flag and dress for the weather.
There will NOT be an escort from the airport to Utica due to timing and distance involved.
Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?
yes
Secondary Staging Date and Staging Time:
08/21/2025 at 06:30pm
Staging Location:
Tractor Supply Co.
Riverside Center
parking lot
790 Horatio Street,
Utica, NY 13502
Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:
Bruce Dauer
315-729-6332
Special Information:
Bob Lott from the VFW will be at the parking lot to organize. Former Ride Captain Leo Griffin will be there early to place the bikes until my arrival at approx 6pm. Pvt Hennessey is expected to arrive between 7 and 8 pm. We will then escort to Boonville at 40 to 45 MPH. Pvt Hennessey and his family will go to the funeral home, while we have been asked to turn off and move on to the VFW. There will be food and refreshment at the VFW. Due to the flight landing in Rochester at approx. 4:45 we will probably be arriving in Boonville at dark or close to it.
UPDATE - 2nd Staging Point has been added:
Is there a Third Stage to this Mission?
no
Submitted by:
Bruce Dauer
rs 08/17; MER
