By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
She heard his first cry. She kissed boo-boos and shooed away monsters. She hugged him tight. She guided him through the terrible twos and maybe even threes, while watching him find his path through teenage struggles. Christine Henderson is seeing the man her son turned out to be – a soldier of principles. Henderson, of Hodgdon, learned that her youngest son, Aaron, was killed Sept. 30 in a land where the Taliban places no value on life.
Sgt. First Class Aaron A. Henderson of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, was wounded by an improvised explosive device. He was transported to a hospital in Afghanistan where he died from his wounds.
An avid outdoorsman, Henderson was home in August visiting his family and enjoying late summer in The County before his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.
“Aaron’s military life was not something he shared when he was home,” said his mother. “He was here to enjoy family and not discuss his work.”
Scott Sjoberg, a close friend and former soldier, met Henderson when he was 6 years old.
“I was the new kid who just moved into the area and was fortunate enough to become teammates with both Aaron and his brother, Sam, [playing on their father] Dallas’ peewee basketball team Dead River,” Sjoberg recalled. “He was very friendly and had an ‘easy going’ personality I was drawn to and we became friends immediately.”
Through elementary and high school, Sjoberg and Henderson were teammates on multiple sports. Sjoberg noted when the two played Little League together they were the team battery. “I got to catch for Aaron, who was our best pitcher,” he said. “Aaron was the funniest kid on our basketball team. I would have a hard time not cracking up while coach was talking because Aaron would be doing something crazy behind the huddle, trying to get a laugh.”
Sjoberg and Henderson hung out together on weekends and were “trying to entertain ourselves the best we could without getting into too much trouble,” Sjoberg said.
Remembering back, he recounted a particular story involving the Henderson brothers.
“I remember several attempted trips with Sam and Aaron to find “pet cemetery” in the dark with homemade torches, only to have our torches burn out and get freaked out and run back to the car,” Sjoberg said.
From snowmobiling, waterskiing to pick-up basketball games, Henderson is remembered for the fun times as a friend.
“Aaron had a personality that drew you in,” said Sjoberg. “He was kind, funny and wanted to do whatever it took to have a good time.”
After Sjoberg and Henderson graduated, they both gave college a try.
“We realized we were not ready for that in our lives,” explained Sjoberg.
Henderson started talking to a U.S. Army recruiter.
“After talking with Aaron, I soon realized that I didn’t want him going alone and I wanted to experience a new adventure with him,” recalled Sjoberg.
The summer prior to shipping out to basic training was the best, according to Sjoberg.
“Aaron and I spent almost every day together playing softball, fishing, chasing ladies across the border and getting the most out of our summer,” he said. “As we rode that bus to the basic training base with freshly shaven heads, we could see the drill sergeants salivating outside that bus door. Aaron and I made a pact, that no matter where ever we ended up and whatever we went through, we would stay friends and keep in touch as much as we could.”
Sjoberg ended up at Fort Carson Colo. He did a tour in Egypt and two tours in Iraq. The first tour to Iraq was 2003-04 with the 571st Medical Company Air Ambulance and the second with the Alpha Co. 1/121. Sjoberg served a total of 10 years in the military, five in active service and five more with the Maine National Guard.
“I never found it a surprise at all when he decided to join the Special Forces,” said Sjoberg. “He was cut out for it. I was so proud of him and what he accomplished. I really looked up to him and he truly is my hero.”
While at home, Henderson told his mother and friends he was heading back to Afghanistan with a new unit as part of his mission with the Special Forces.
“Aaron was on a totally different path when he went back,” explained his mother. “A team leader expressed his desire to have Aaron on his team, so Aaron asked if he could get out of what he was doing and join the team. They granted him his request. He was doing what he wanted to do. It doesn’t make the pain any less bearable, but I know he died a hero.”
Remembering his last conversation with his friend at the July 4 parade in town, Sjoberg asked Henderson a rhetorical question.
“I knew in my heart the answer to my question,” said Sjoberg. “But, I asked it anyway. ‘Are you headed over again?’”
Henderson told him as soon as he got back to base, he was headed back.
As friends do, the conversation took on a more optimistic tone “when you get back, we will …” and fill in the blank. But, Sjoberg and Henderson won’t get the chance to do whatever they decided upon.
“He smiled that great big friendly smile, while pulling me in for a hug,” added Sjoberg. “Aaron was the best!”
Since he died, the Henderson family is getting a sneak peek into what Aaron’s life was like in the military and how regarded he was by those he stood beside in battle.
“His former team members say that he was an outstanding soldier,” said his mother. “They actually called him ‘Glueman’ because he held his team together under the most trying of circumstances. He was a wonderful, loving son and an incredible soldier.”
Fellow soldier and friend, David Alvarado, agreed.
Alvarado met Henderson in 2003 when they were stationed at United States Army Garrison – Japan.
“We met the night he got to Japan,” recalled Alvarado. “Being his first night, Sgt. Luis Pagan, SSG Callison Lewis and myself took him out and from then the four of us were inseparable – a true band of brothers.”
As a soldier, Alvarado said Henderson was a caring and compassionate leader.
“He was always a soldier you can depend on,” he added. “When he told the three of us (Alvarado, Pagan and Lewis) he wanted to join the ranks of Special Forces, you could see the determination in his face and the three of us pushed him to the limits to ensure he was ready. He showed remarkable intestinal fortitude.”
Alvarado and Henderson became more than friends … brothers.
“As a man, I always looked at him like the Brawny man. Like a gentle giant. He was always at the house and we constantly battled about the Yankees and Red Sox,” said Alvarado. “He was just a kind-hearted friend. The kind of guy your mother would want you to hang out with.”
On Aug. 3, 2005, Alvarado and his then-fiance Melinda woke up in their North Carolina home and he proposed marriage.
“Moments after that I called Aaron and said ‘Wake up, do you own a pair of slacks and a collared shirt?’ After laughing, he asked why and I asked him to be my best man! I could tell in his voice he was proud and honored.”
After returing stateside from Japan, the “brothers” were stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“We have been though so much together I could go on and on about things about him,” said Alvarado. “He taught my daughter Janelle to tie her shoes. He was at the birth of my daughter Mayleen. We laughed. We just had fun.”
From North Carolina, Alvarado was stationed in Washington, DC and Henderson went to Fort Campbell, Ky.
“I’m probably going to miss his ability to make anyone in a room smile,” said Alvarado. “He was always so calm and relaxed that even in the most stressful situation, when you’re pouring our your problems to him, he would crack a small joke and say ‘suck it up’ and laugh. It seemed like all of your cares were gone. His attitude was infectious. I’m a better man for knowing him.”
So, as time passes these next few days, the vivid reds, oranges and yellows of fall will be dimmed through a mother’s moistened eyes as she lays her son’s body to rest. While words of praise are spoken honoring her son by congressmen, fellow soldiers to those of a chaplain or minister, her only words will likely be “Rest well my son. I will see you soon.”
