1LT Ashley L. Henderson Huff
DOD // 09.19.2006
HOMETOWN // Belle Mead, NJ
DOB // 12.19.1982
1LT Ashley L. Henderson Huff, 23, of Belle Mead, NJ, died of injuries suffered in Mosul, Iraq, on Sept.19, 2006 when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near her mounted patrol during combat operations. Huff was assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, Fort Stewart, GA. Ashley spent her childhood in Baton Rouge, LA before moving to New Jersey. She attended the University of Georgia, where she was a member of the ROTC program. She graduated in 2004 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and deployed to Iraq in December 2005. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge. Ashley was survived by her husband, Brian Huff, her parents, Mark and Janet Henderson, her brother, Andrew, and her sister, Abby.
“Ashley was a happy person, a good leader. She was very caring about her soldiers – well respected by them and by her commanding officers. She had a promising career in the Army and whatever else she chose.” Mark Henderson, Ashley’s father, said.
The Travis Manion Foundation honored 1LT Ashley Henderson Huff through our Character Does Matter program on Nov. 29, 2011, when we told her story to inspire 1,400 students at Community Middle School in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey. The students took on a challenge to follow the examples of their Fallen Heroes, and lived by Travis’ motto, “If Not Me, Then Who…” They honored their Fallen Hero through researching her life and exceeded their goal of completing 500 acts of kindness in her honor.