Kenneth G Hickel’s helmet and the day General Buckner died

[ArchangelDM]

Firstly I would like to thank the previous caretaker of this historically important Marine Corps grouping. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would be able to hold and care for such an important grouping of this calibre. 
 

Keneth George Hickel enlisted in the Marine corps Dec 4th 1942, and once boot camp was completed was assigned to the 2nd Mar Div as an expert rifleman. 
Kenneth went into combat at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. 
 

The previous owner knew Kenneth well and this is what he wrote 

 

“I acquired the named P42 camouflage blouse and trousers in 1995. I bought them from a man named Kenneth Hickel of Williston, North Dakota. We had both loaned WWII items for a display and when I saw the camouflage, I had to inquire. He sold me the top and bottom but was not willing to part with the helmet. Over the years as I would run into him, I would end our conversations with a polite inquiry about the helmet. He wouldn't part with it. He passed away in 2017 and I thought it was gone for good. In an incredible bit of happenstance,  I got off early one day last spring and found myself driving past his old house, and saw his garage door open. His oldest daughter was cleaning it out as her mother had recently passed. I asked about the helmet and made a generous offer if she should locate it. She called two months later as the house was being cleaned out. In a box was his boot camp photo, 2 Early war brass dog tags with thumb print on the back, his helmet, his named dress green blouse and trousers, two 2nd Division patches, a home front Marine Corps window banner, a stenciled sewing kit, and a very nice Early war dewat MKII grenade with a yellow body (high explosive) in a period canister. After 26 years, I was able to reunite the helmet and P42 utilities, as I have never encountered a stenciled helmet cover and utilities together. Kenneth was in Headquarters Co. 8th Marine Regiment,  2nd Marine Division and landed at Tarawa,  Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. He is actually in one of the more well known photographs taken at Tarawa. I took a copy to him years ago and asked if he would sign it for me. That is the photo of the litter cases on the rubber raft. He is bareheaded toward the rear and slightly bent forward. He told me at our last meeting how the helmet was damaged. His company was on the line on Okinawa when he heard several jeeps pull up behind their position. He noticed several officers walking up the reverse slop to where he was dug in. As these officers stood near the crest of the hill observing, 3 Japanese shells impacted close by and Kenneth said a piece of shrapnel struck his helmet and he received a head wound that he was evacuated for. He learned later that Lt Gen. Buckner was one of the officers he saw walking up the hill and had been killed. Ken was a salt of the earth kind of man. Quiet and reserved, he drove truck for decades in the oil patch of North Dakota and retired in the early 1990's. He never spoke of it much and would occasionally share an insight into what he had experienced in the Pacific. I am grateful to have been the custodian of these items”

 

After seeing the helmet my jaw dropped ! Not only was Hickel on the front lines of some of the bloodiest campaigns of the war but General Buckner had been hit by the same Mortar blast that had hit Hickel. 
Sadly both Hickel and General Buckner where operated on for Their wounds but Buckner never made it. 
He was the highest ranking Officer in Ww2 to be killed. 
What’s mind blowing is the fact that the same fragments that entered Hickels helmet are the ones from the same mortars that killed General Buckner. Not only that but General Buckner was coming up the line to see Kenneth and the rest of the men. 
 

His helmet is a testament to how well the M1 helmet was made and how it saved his life on that day of June 18th 1945. 
 

The pictures speak for themselves,  so below is Kenneth George Hickel’s full grouping and the very last photo of General Buckner before moving up that ridge on June 18th 1945

 

- Dean 

 

[ArchangelDM]

More 

[trenchfoot]

All I can say is WOW what a grouping! Marine helmets are hard to find to begin with, not to mention a fully named one, AND battle damaged!

 

Russ

[CavalryCombatant]

Absolutely incredible Dean, I’m at a loss for words!  The setup looks killer together, do you plan to ever put the P42’s on a mannequin?

[dhcoleterracina]

That has to be the best M-1 I have ever seen. Well done!!!!!

[elh1311]

That is truly incredible. 

[Sarchione]

Very nice grouping!  Glad to see the group staying together. 

[whitecap]

Wow Dean that is outstanding.

[David D]

Incredible! 

[dmar836]

Dean,

I can't think of a better steward of this grouping. Excellent save of history. Thanks for sharing this!

Dave

[fight]

Holy Moly

[mdk0911]

awesome grouping - doesn't get much better - well done!!

[mikie]

Thank goodness that helmet did it's job. And congrats to you for being it's current custodian. 

 

My Dad was a fighting infantryman on Okinawa at the time and despite all the carnage around him, he long remembered the sad news passing around about Buckner being killed. 

Mikie

[Blueprint]

Well Dean! 
 

Here it is! What an outstanding grouping! There can’t be a better caretaker than you are!

 

Congrats! What a niece piece of history! 
 

I guess the USMC Museum is going to envy that piece! 
 

 

[ArchangelDM]

Thank you to Everyone for the extremely kind comments on the grouping, I will be looking after this one until the next caretaker does, hopefully that will be my son. 
 

- Dean 

 

[M24 Chaffee]

Spectacular grouping! Amazing helmet!

 

Frank

[AZPhil]

OUTSTANDING!!!!!

 

Semper Fi

Phil 

[MCDUFF]

Best yet buddy! Truly insanely rare and awesome!

Glad it is in your collection...

 

[gap]

Fantastic! Make sure there is a line of succession for the items! 

[GMPETE]

Truly incredible!  What a fine, fine thing, and grouping.  Congratulations.

[shadawg]

absolutely top notch, untouchable grouping there 

 

David

[ArchangelDM]

Thanks again for the kind comments 

I will be doing a display over the holidays and will upload more pics when it’s finished 

 

 

[ArchangelDM]

On 12/6/2021 at 8:29 PM, gap said:

Fantastic! Make sure there is a line of succession for the items! 

Ow yes there will be, with full documentation on it so it keeps the history Alive with it. 

[Paddyd00]

So great. The pictures do speak for themselves and as far as the pervious owner. I am always amazed how these things work out. And now onto you. Kenneth was proud of these items and  what he accomplished. So much so he held onto them till the day he died. I also cannot think of a better steward of this USMC grouping Dean. Brav-o. Love it truly. 
 

Z

 

[ArchangelDM]

18 hours ago, Paddyd00 said:

So great. The pictures do speak for themselves and as far as the pervious owner. I am always amazed how these things work out. And now onto you. Kenneth was proud of these items and  what he accomplished. So much so he held onto them till the day he died. I also cannot think of a better steward of this USMC grouping Dean. Brav-o. Love it truly. 
 

Z

 

Z I’m humbled by your words brother ! 
I shall keep up the good fight of caretaking for these Marine items