CCHS Alumni Database Header

Columbia City High School
Alumni Database

HOME

* = Has Email

** = Deceased

UPDATE ENTRY	UPLOAD PHOTOS	ADD A NAME	WEBMASTER
MAIN INDEX	CLASS OF 1936	CLASS MEMORIES	REUNION INFO

SENIOR PHOTO


Name:	John Forrest Hickman
Spouse:	Mary Lee Mulholland Hickman
Address
	Clearfield, KY
Phone Number
Email Address
Personal Website
Class of	1936	Attended from through
Graduated Here?	Yes
If graduated elsewhere, graduated from:
College Attended:

Birthdate:	November 8, 1917
Date of Death:	December 30, 1991

Current Occupation:

Notes:	The story of John Forrest Hickman BY PAM KOCH, Whitley County Historical Museum; published in The Post & Mail November 16, 2022: The last couple of weeks the Museum has been preparing a new exhibit in honor of Veterans Day. This exhibit is in the Research and Education Building so it is accessible to those who are challenged by stairs. As I was researching a box of military photos, I found a series of wonderful photos, which had been given to the Museum in 2009, of a World War ll pilot. In one of the pictures a name tag was visible, so now I know his name: John Forrest Hickman. He was born Nov. 8, 1917 in Vigan, the Philippines. His family returned to northern Indiana when he was 12 years-old. He attended Columbia City High School where he was drum major of the high school band. He then attended and graduated from Manchester College. He was in the U.S. Army from February 1941 until October, 1945. He served seven months with the 5th Infantry Division, then was transferred to the Army Air Force. John married Mary Lee [Mulholland] August 24, 1942 after completing his flight training and getting his wings. He was shipped overseas September, 1942 as a pilot with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, based in England. He served two months with the R.A.F. 165th Fighter Squadron. He flew P-51 (Mustang) with A. A. F. 107th Tac. Recon. Squadron. On May 3, 1944 he was reported missing in action after his reconnaissance plane was hit by enemy gunfire in an air action over France. He was observed by another in his squadron to have “bailed out” using his parachute, and landed in a wooded area in French territory. He was captured by the Germans and held captive for four days. He escaped from the train on its way to a prison camp and was aided by a French family of the Underground who took him to Switzerland, where he stayed for three months. At that time, he joined the French “Maquis” who helped him meet the 45th Division that was moving north from Southern France. He returned to England in August 1944 via Rome, Algiers, Casablanca and rejoined his unit briefl y near Versailles. He, then, returned to the U.S. as an instructor until he was discharged. In 1986 he wrote the book “For God, Country, and the Hell of It,” an account of his experiences. Circa 1947, he earned a master’s degree at Northwestern University and began to work with the U.S. State Department, serving as secretary to the NATO negotiations in 1949. Later he worked with the Agency for International Development as a financial analyst, where he lived and worked in many parts of the world. In 1972, he was sent by the State Department to Morehead, Kentucky to work as a financial advisor with the Gateway Area Development District. He retired there in 1974. His wife, Mary Lee, died of health problems about that time. They had two sons: Stephen and John L. He married M. Louise Quinn-Hickman May 12, 1979, a professor at Morehead University. They remained in Morehead where he died Dec.30, 1991 NOTE: He and first wife are buried Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Morehead, Kentucky.

Last Updated:	10-21-2023		Alumni ID:	11489

Database Footer

Class Coordinators needed. If your class does not have a Class Coordinator listed with its officers, you can volunteer by clicking here: webmaster@cchsaa.org. For more info, click here