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General Nickolas Herkimer Tenants of Sir William Johnson's Kingsborough Patent by 1769, Peter Fikes' Sons split as to their allegiance during the Rev. War. Peter, Jr., Henrich, Daniel and George were Kings Royal Regiment, Philip Adam Fikes and George "Jurry" Fikes were members of the Tryon County Militia. Henrich and George did not survive the war, but Henrich's widow and children relocated to Ontario. Phillip Adam Fikes and George "Jurry" Fikes (Fykes) served in the 2nd Regiment of the Tryon County Militia during the Revolutionary War, enlisting on the same day, were Peter Adam Fikes Jr., Daniel Fikes and Henry Fikes. George "Jurry" Fikes later switched his allegiance and enlisted into the Kings Royal Regiment on 22 May 1780. The Tryon County Militia fought at Oriskany, Stone Arabia, Saratoga and other important skirmishes and battles during the war. On August 22, 1775, by order of the New York Provincial Congress, the Tryon County militia and the Albany County militia were organized together into a Brigade. One fourth of each company were to be selected as Minute Men. The "Stars and Stripes" were flown for the first time at Fort Stanwix during the Tryon County Militia's first engagement with the enemy a short distance away. The Militia engaged in the Battle of Johnstown, October 25, 1781, know as "The Last Battle of the Revolution." George's Brothers, Son's, nephews and grandsons served on both the Union and Confederate sides during the Civil War, with most of them being from just North of Selma Alabama in Fikestown and around Fikes Ferry. Tyree Y Fikes served in Co "H", 36th Alabama Inf. Many of the Fikes slaves took the Fikes name when they were released, and some Fikes Men took Black Women as Wives, perhaps leading to their fleeing the Blackwell KKK style crowd around Selma and moving to Texas after the War. Michael Fikes was a War of 1812 veteran Adam Fikes, George Fikes and Edwin T. Fikes served with the Union Artillery 10th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Cornelius G. Fikes with the Union Infantry, 112th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, David Fikes, 5th Regiment and 44th Regiment and 140th Regiment, New York Infantry. George W. Fikes was 12th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, 5th Regiment, US Volunteer Infantry and 13th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Hiram Fikes 3rd Regiment, US Volunteer Infantry, John H. Fikes 19th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Luke Fikes 64th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry and 69th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. Pvt George Fikes, a cook with Company H, 36th Alabama Infantry Regiment, last was seen alive on Sept 15, 1862 when he left a Confederate hospital in Selma enroute to his home in Fikestown about 50 miles to the north. Raymond Fikes was a Private with Company M, 349th Infantry, 88th Division, US Army during the First World War. Marion Monroe Fikes was a Farmer in Oklahoma, when the Great Dust Bowl came he went out in the fields one day after an attack of Locust had reduced his crops to stubble and when he returned to the house he told his Wife, Elizabeth, "Pack it all up, Lizzie, we're leaving." The loaded as much as they could in an old pickup, sold, gave away or abandoned the rest and headed West, Okies. Settling in Skull Valley Arizona Marion Fikes returned to Farming, raising Cucumbers until a fall from a Horse took his life just before World War Two. Elizabeth moved her Family to California to live with a Sister in Venice. Chester Clark Fikes was a POW during WWII, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal (04/27/1944 - May 3, 1945) France Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with oak Clusters (3); Good Conduct Medal; American Campaign Medal; WWII Victory Medal; Army Occupation Medal; Berlin Airlift Medal; American Defense Service Medal |
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June 6th, 1944, Marion's Son, Carrol Collins "Red" Fikes assaults Omaha Beach as part of the D Day Invasion. As he advances through Normandy he is wounded and receives the first of three Purple hearts that he will finish the War with. His Older Brother Jessie fought the War in the Pacific with General McArthur, serving for a time as his Staff Car Driver in the Philippines. As a Combat Engineer he is often in with the first teams sent in to secure Airports, blow Bridges or build emplacements. Lewis Fikes serves in Europe and after VE day transfers to the pacific and helps mop up the Japanese. Youngest Brother Billy Fikes enters the U.S. Army, eager to join his Brothers at the front. Before he completes his training two Atomic Bombs bring an end to World War 2. He serves in Japan with Occupation Army instead of on the front line. He is then assigned to the 2nd Infantry, 23rd Regiment, HHC 2nd Bn., Combat duty in Korea. From there he went to the 34th Military Police POW Escort Guard Co in 1953. Returning to the US he went to Two Rock Ranch Station, Petaluma, CA, with the Signal Corps section of the Army Security Agency then to Ft Ord, Co M, 8th Inf Rgmt Basic Training Instructor. Auto Mechanics School followed and he became an instructor there and then 1st Sgt of the6th Infantry Division School in 1950. Then he was assigned to the 4th Army HQ, Ft Sam Houston where his old Company Clerk from Ft. Ord assigned him to Recruiting Service in New Orleans LA for 1 year, then Amarillo, TX for 1 year. Asking to return to regular Army life he got assignment to Ft Sam Houston's Signal Corps as Supply Sgt, unit? After moving his entire Company by convoy to Ft Bragg, SC Sgt Fikes found out that he was suddenly the ranking person, and therefore became Company Commander. He had 2 wire repair teams and 2 radio repair teams and was told to send them to Ft Hood TX to support 2 armored Divisions. "One morning I went to work and the whole damn Company was back from Ft. Bragg, one Company Commander had unloaded his trucks into my buildings with my equipment. I asked him how we should sort it out and he said we knew what he was supposed to have and what I was supposed to have and we would inventory, and he said I could pay for any missing equipment. I told him we would have a disinterested 3rd party Officer investigate and the Captain leaned over my desk and said he'd have my stripes for that remark. I told him better Men than him had tried to get those stripes and I was still wearing them. The next morning I met my Commander as he reported to work, told him what had transpired and that it was time for me to move on before this Officer made my Army life come to an end. I was informend the next day I would be transferred to Korea. KMAG Korean Military Advisor Group, Sgt. Fikes designed the Korean Army Signal Corps for which he was awarded the "Meritorious Service Medal" (the Army's highest peacetime medal) Billy was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Army Commendation Medal(2), Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense, Army Service, Korean Service, Overseas Service and other awards. |
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The Korean War brought together Jessie and Billy for a short time, they served in different units but found time to join each other during the occasion of the birth of Billy Jr. back in California in 1955. Lewis was recalled into the Army for a 2 year tour & formed the 137LE while stationed at Ft. Riley & shipped over to Vietnam with it. He rotated back to the states & retired again. Louis' Son Patrick Fikes served in Vietnam June 1970 to June 1971. He was stationed in Chu Lai. Pat was a Sergeant with the 137th Engineer Co. (Light Equipment). He found that the mattress that he was using for a long time had his Dad's name on it when he turned it over. Then he went looking & found Lewis' fan & a few other things. He was a heavy equipment operator building farm to market roads in and around Me Lai. RVN. Pat was stationed in Kitzingen, Germany 1973-1975. He was then re-assigned to Stuttgart, Germany, Ludendorf Kassern 1975-1977. Pat was in the Army for 12 years, leaving service in 1983 as Chief Warrant Officer Second Class (Engineer Equipment Repair Technician). He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.Olan's Son J Marvin Fikes saw action in Viet Nam, Olan's Daughter Barbara made Major in the Army Medical Corps. Billy's Son, Billy Jr. served during the Cold War era in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd of the 67th Air Defense Artillery as a Chaparral Missile Systems Maintenance Mechanic and in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division, 702nd Main Support Battalion as a Quartermaster and Chemical Repair Specialist, Unit Repair and Utility Specialist, Mail Room NCOIC, Field Sanction NCOIC and 2nd Infantry Division Draftsman reporting directly to the Division Command Sergeant Major. Shortly after being assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division Billy Jr. got an Article 15, which was read to him by Lt.Col. Woodrow Wilson III. After 4 years in Korea Billy transferred to Ft Ord, California ending 10 years duty as the NCOIC of the 7ID, 707FSB Combat/Scout Motorcycle Repair Shop and 7th Infantry Div. Draftsman. Army Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service, Overseas Service Ribbon, others. Honor Graduate NCO Professional Development Course 8-80 Giebelstadt, Germany. Billy's Daughter Susan Lee Patch became a Staff Sergeant (E5) in the Alaska Air National Guard 1992 - 1998, assigned to the 176th Wing at Kulis ANGB, Alaska. Mortuary Affairs Specialist. She earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, two AF Achievement medals, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service, National Defense and the Alaska Humanitarian Service medal. Susan's Son Alexander Lewis Kraft joined the US Army in 2001, trained at Fort Benning, GA and was stationed at Fort Riley, KS with the 1-41st Armored Division (The Road Hogs), his unit was among the first into Iraq at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and he served two extended combat tours there before leaving the Army in 2006. Susan's Daughter Patricia Elizabeth (Tracy) Kraft joined the US Army Reserve in 2003 and was training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO when she sustained multiple severe stress fractures in both legs and received a medical discharge with 10% VA disability. Son Zebadiah Robert Kraft joined the Army in 2003 trained at Fort Benning, GA and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning) at Schoffield Barracks, HI He served combat tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Son Nicholas Maxwell Kraft, USMC, joined the Marine Corps on 8/6/2007. Trained at MC Recruit Depot San Diego, assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as a Motor Transport specialist and training at Yuma, AZ for deployment to Iraq in August 2008. |
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