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Edwin James Fickler
Captain
H&MS 11, MAG-11, 1ST MAW, III MAF United States Marine Corps Kewaskum, Wisconsin May 04, 1943 to February 04, 1974 (Incident Date January 17, 1969) EDWIN J FICKLER is on the Wall at Panel W34, Line 23 |
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I wore your MIA-POW bracelet for several years, until the Viet Nam war ended. I wrote to the Department of the Navy for any information about what happened to you, but they could only tell me that you were missing in action. Finally after 36 years I know what happened that night of January 17, 1969, in your Intruder, and thanks to the internet I found your picture. I have thought of you with a heavy heart so many times over the past 36 years. Rest well, my friend, I shall never forget you.
Lynne Pozzuto |
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I knew Jim just before he went to Vietnam. He had just read a letter from me right before he flew that last mission. To speculate that he could have flown into a mountain is just that - speculation. No one knows what happened unless they were there - I would rather read something from some of his friends than baseless speculation about what happened that tragic night. I will never forget him and think of him often. I went to the Marine Corps Ball with him at Cherry Point in November 1967 - it was a truly magical evening - unforgettable - just like he is.
From a friend, |
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Jimmy Fickler was my great uncle. I live in Allenton, Wisconsin, a few miles away from Kewaskum. I have his Marine sword. Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy, wherever you may be.
From his greatnephew, |
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To Whom It May Concern: Thank you for the information on this web site. As a young child aged seven or eight I proudly wore an MIA bracelet during the Viet Nam war. I don't know what happened to that bracelet, but I remember it very well. It was a single strip of chromed metal with rounded ends that I wore on my right wrist. It had a small circular sticker on it, a white background with a single blue star. The name engraved on the bracelet, "Capt. E. James Fickler", the name of a man I shall never forget. Although the only thing I knew of him is that he was missing in action, I have always felt a bond with him. My mother - being fiercely patriotic and having a brother in the army during the war - gave me the bracelet. She gave me a sense that the bracelet was important, that it represented a real person, an American. Now, as it was then, he deserves my thoughts, respect, and gratitude. Having children who are around the same age as Captain Fickler, and myself being a veteran who joined the army at an age older than he was when his plane went down, I am struck by how young he really was. I will keep his picture and continue to remember him often. Thank you for providing closure to the mystery of an honored soul who has always been, and will forever be a part of my life.
Sincerely, |
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Jim and I were roommates going through Navy/Marine flight training. We shared many fun times and Fick was always full of energy and spirit. He also was a terrific cook! I remember well the good times Jim had driving his red Corvette! What a great car - bright red with a 427 engine. I got married while in advanced flight training and Jim came to my bride's rescue with some timely cooking lessons. I will always remember him as I am still wearing his POW/MIA bracelet today. I do it for two reasons: 1) To honor Fick's life and service to our great nation; 2) to remind me of my blessings in life and never to take my freedom for granted. I love ya, MAN!! Forever, Tom
From a friend and roommate, |
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Thank you for this site. I proudly wore your bracelet while in high school. I take it out of a safe deposit box each Memorial Day. It's difficult to explain how close you can become with someone you don't know. I too will never forget the name of Captain E. James Fickler.
Rocky Grimes |
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As a 20 year old National Guard member just returning from an active duty stint in support of Desert Shield, I purchased A POW-MIA bracelet in support of the Air Force ROTC on the campus of Mississippi State University. I found one from Kewauskum, Wisconsin, which is where my father was born and raised so I got it. It bore the name Edwin J Fickler. I didn't tell my dad about it because this was a time before I was born and he received an educational deferral, so we didn't talk about the war. On a weekend visit home, he saw the bracelet and his face went white, and he whispered the name "Jimmy". We sat down and talked for over an hour abut Jimmy Fickler and his family and the fun times he had with my dad's older brother. I learned so much more about the man before he went away, and the pain the family had when they received the news. 16 years later, I still have the bracelet, and as I came across it today, I put his name is a search engine and found this site - so thank you. This answers some questions I had, but still leaves others unanswered.
From the son of a friend. |
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I also wore your bracelet while in high school and still have this bracelet. I look at it often and say a prayer for you. I always wanted to put a picture to the name I will never forget.
Carolina Evans |
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My bracelet says "James E Fickler" and it wasn't until years later, on the internet, that I discovered that it should have read "Edwin J. Fickler". I bought that bracelet in either late 1969 or 1970 and wore it during the remainder of the conflict, including my tour of duty there. The bracelet now sits on my coffee table, in plain sight, so that I and guests to my house will never forget your sacrifice. Rest peacefully, my friend.
From an unknown friend, |
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I am glad to find this site and to learn more about the man on the MIA bracelet I wore in high school and college. The war ended while I was in ROTC at the University of Mississippi, but my instructors had served in Vietnam and they allowed me to wear the bracelet while in uniform. 30+ years later I thank them for that. When I was commisioned and went on active duty, I had to put the bracelet away. While looking through a box of keepsakes, I came across the small box containing my bracelet. My first thought was to check the internet and it took me straight to this site. Thank you. Your information fills a void and makes me feel even closer.
From MIA bracelet, |
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I also wore Capt. E. James Fickler's P. O. W. bracelet for many years. (I didn't know they issued more than one for each MIA.) I prayed for your safe return, and have always thought of you ... especially on January 19th. Isn't is something how, without knowing him or even what he looked like, he touched my life and Lynne's too. I just found my bracelet this morning, and thanks to this web site I have a handsome face to help me remember this hero. Rest in peace, Captain Fickler.
Tina Pilliter Monroe |
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