Owego native Sgt. Michael C. Henning was recently awarded a Purple Heart for combat related injuries he sustained while serving his first tour of duty in Iraq. 

 Shortly after graduating from Owego Free Academy in 1985, Sgt. Henning enlisted as an MP in the Army. After basic and advanced training, he completed his tour of duty in the Panama Canal Zone. Upon returning home he enlisted in the Army Reserve, was employed at several local industries and the Village of Owego, and married his wife, Teresa. 

 In the spring of 2003, he re-enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Shortly after that he volunteered to serve in Iraq and was temporarily assigned to a unit already on the ground there. While there, he was injured as the result of a grenade explosion in December 2003. 

 In early 2004, he returned to his assigned unit at Ft. Stewart. Due to an administrative error, Sgt. Henning was not awarded the Purple Heart at that time. After an extensive review, it was determined that the recommendation for the Purple Heart had never been forwarded to higher headquarters and the Army awarded him the medal this spring. 

 Since his initial deployment to Iraq, Sgt. Henning has served two more tours of duty there and was again injured as the result of an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in 2007 and returned to the US to recover from his injuries. 

 At this time he is assigned to the Warriors In Transition unit at Ft. Stewart while recuperating from his latest injuries. 

 Sgt. Henning is the son of Robert Henning of Apalachin and Marge Spaulding of Owego. His brother, Matthew, also lives in Owego. Upon completion of his tour of duty, Sgt. Henning and his wife hope to return to live in Owego.