World War II Honoree

Harold Wayne Hickox

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Yale, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON OCTOBER 14, 1943 AT YALE, ILLINOIS. ATTENDED BASIC AND FIREMAN TRAINING AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, FARRAGUT, IDAHO BEFORE COMPLETING HIS TRAINING AT THE NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE, LITTLE CREEK, VIRGINIA. ASSIGNED TO THE USS DOROTHEA L. DIX AP-67, A C3-E TYPE TRANSPORT SHIP ON MARCH 14, 1944 AND DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. BOUND FOR BELFAST, IRELAND, THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE NORMANDY INVASION. ON D-DAY AT NORMANDY, AS MACHINIST’S MATE BOAT CREW OF LANDING CRAFT, VEHICLE, PERSONNEL LCVP-3 (OF 24 ABOARD THE USS DOROTHEA L. DIX), MADE 3 ROUND TRIPS CARRYING TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT ASHORE AT OMAHA BEACH. ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE SAME CAPACITY AT THE D-DAY INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. AFTER REPAIRS IN THE U.S. PASSED WESTWARD THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 1944 EN ROUTE TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF OKINAWA AS THE MACHINIST’S MATE IN CHARGE OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL THE USS DOROTHEA L. DIX 24 LCVP. RETURNED HOME ON LEAVE AND MARRIED ON NOVEMBER 10, 1945 EN ROUTE TO ASSIGNMENT ABOARD THE USS LANDING SHIPS TANK (LST) 30 BERTHED AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. PASSED EASTWARD THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 1945 WHILE FERRYING THE SHIP TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA FOR DECOMMISSIONING. EARNED THE NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (AWARDED RETROACTIVELY IN 1999 BY CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS (NORMANDY AND SOUTHERN FRANCE), ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR (RYUKYUS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A MOTOR MACHINIST’S MATE 1ST CLASS ON APRIL 12, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.