![]() Frederick Francis Hickey, Jr. Colonel, United States Army |
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Courtesy
of his classmates
United States Military Academy, Class of 1946 FREDERICK FRANCIS HICKEY, JR.
After graduating from Dartmouth, academics were no problem for Fred. He was always ready and willing to help any classmate who needed it. His B-I classmates all recall Fred as very mature and serious; the latter because most of his classmates always seemed slightly juvenile. As one B-1'er put it, "Fred was the father of B-I Company." Another classmate recalls that he never saw Fred panic, indeed get really excited, was as cool and calm as anyone this friend knew during that period. Fred was absolutely unflappable. This characteristic plus his quickness of thought, ability to express himself and concern for his fellows, made him a consensus choice to be an outstanding officer. Another classmate recalls that Fred greatly enjoyed his free time as a cadet and contributed much to relieving the usual cadet stresses by means of his great sense of humor. When graduation rolled around, Fred became a second lieutenant of Artillery. Two days after graduation, Fred married Emily Jane Brown of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York in the Holy Trinity Chapel at West Point. After finishing Artillery branch schooling, Fred was assigned to C Battery, 159th Field Artillery Battalion in Nara, Japan. As was the case in those days, Fred had to wait before he could bring Jane over to join him. Prior to her going to Japan, Jane was diagnosed as suffering from multiple sclerosis. Fred was put on orders back to Fort Dix, New Jersey so he could be near Jane, and it was a year before Jane was able to travel. In October 1949, Fred and Jane went to Fort Bundy, Puerto Rico, where Fred was assigned to the 504th Field Artillery Battalion. After a year in Puerto Rico, the battalion was moved to Panama, and Fred and Jane moved there. O. W. "Tut" Parmly, USMA'50, recalls that his first assignment after graduation was to A Battery, 504th FA Battalion in Panama, commanded by Fred Hickey. Fred and Jane met the Parmlys at the airport, and the two couples lived next door to each other in a duplex at Fort Kobbe, CZ. Since the Class of 1950 was not sent to their respective Branch Basic Courses before their first assignments, Tut recalls that Fred was very much a leader and teacher for him. Tut Parmly made the following observation about Fred Hickey: "Without reservation, of all the officers under whom I served during my 16 years of military service, Fred had the most desirable leadership qualities which, when I could, I emulated during my career. He was truly outstanding." From Panama, Fred and Jane went back to the
Artillery Officers Advanced Course and then to the Staff and Faculty of
the Artillery School. Their son Michael was born at Fort Sill during this
assignment. In 1955 Fred and Jane went to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia
for advanced schooling. Their friends, the Parmlys, were also there, and
the two couples lived only a block apart. When Fred graduated from Georgia
Tech with a Masters degree in electrical engineering, he then had three
degrees. From Georgia the Hickeys moved to Fort Bliss where Fred became
a guided missile project officer with the Artillery Board. Jane recalls
that Fred enjoyed this assignment as much as any he had. Their daughter
Kathleen was born during this tour at Fort Bliss. In 1960 Fred was selected
to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
and Fred became the honor graduate of his Nuclear Weapons Employment Officers
Course. His next assignment was to Colorado Springs, Colorado with the
Continental Air Defense Command. After two years in Colorado, Fred had
health problems and was sent to William Beaumont General Hospital at Fort
Bliss, Texas. He was a patient for six months. Recovered enough for reassignment,
Fred was sent to
Fred's Artillery friends remember him as a
brilliant person and a highly-skilled
It is with pride that his classmates say, "Well Done, Be Thou At Peace." '46 Memorial Project and his wife Jane
Posted: 8 February 2001 Updated: 7 March 2003 |
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