News Honor Flight soldier\'s story: Henry Eckhoff surived land mine blast in Africa

Before D-Day, before the Battle of the Bulge and before many of the more well-known battles of The European Theater could take place in World War II, the Allies had to find a way to Europe.

With the Axis occupying most of western Europe, the best way to Europe was through Africa. The southern tip of Spain is less than 10 miles from North Africa shores. The toe of the 'boot' of Italy is approximately 100 miles from Africa.

The Allies also needed to keep control of Africa so they could have easy access to much-needed Middle Eastern oil to power the planes, tanks and other machinery.

Many Americans are unfamiliar with this piece of World War II history.

But Henry Eckhoff of Wellsburg in rural Grundy County will never forget it.

Eckhoff, who was one of the 99 veterans who flew from Iowa to Washington D.C., on the Sept. 14 Honor Flight, spent a couple years in Africa.

"We fought all the way across the continent," said Eckhoff, while riding a bus around Washington, D.C.

Accompanied by his daughter, Barbara Dowd, Eckhoff recited his own unique history of an GI infantryman in Africa.

A member of the famed and revered Third Infantry, Eckhoff  fought across northern Africa as the Allies suffered thousands of casaulties, but eventually defeated the Axis.

The fighting was nearly over; it was the spring of 1943. On March 28, just a few weeks before the African campaign would officially end, Eckhoff and a friend took advantage of a day off.

They found a quiet spot to sit down.

And then the world exploded around them.

Eckhoff felt the burning pain in his face and chest. One of them had set off a land mine.

"I figured that I lost my right eye right then," said Eckhoff.

He had. Shrapnel destroyed his right eye, and narrowly missed his left eye. Weeks later, Eckhoff's father found more than 30 pieces of shrapnel in his chest.

That day, March 28, 1943, was the end of World War II for Henry Eckhoff.

He spent many days in the hospital. After a few days, Eckhoff had an important visitor.

"General Eisenhower came into my room, patted my leg and said, 'How are you doing, Buddy?'" Eckhoff recalls.

Eckhoff recovered from his injuries, and returned to Iowa. He recently celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary, and now has 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.