He was transferred to the motor machinist mate rating – related to his pre-service work as an auto mechanic.

[3] In 1942 Northland's executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Carlton Skinner, recommended transferring Henry to the engineering division.

Henry rose quickly through the ranks on Northland, being promoted to chief petty officer in late 1943.

In 2010, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles "Skip" W. Bowen, proposed that all the cutters in the Sentinel class should be named after enlisted Coast Guardsmen, or one of its precursor services, who were recognized for their heroism, or who otherwise represented a model of service that should be emulated.

When the Oliver Henry is stationed at its home port of Santa Rita, Guam, it will be at a maintenance facility named after his mentor, Carlton Skinner.