FIKE, HEWITT Dec 31, 1943 age 21 KIA New Guinea

HEWITT EDWARD FIKE TAYLOR  b. Mar 11, 1922 Litchfield, Mich d. Dec 31, 1943 Killed in Action New Britain, New Guinea

Pfc 430471 USMCR Co. M 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marine, 1^st Div

15735 Pierson

 

Buried Ft. Wm McKinley, Manila, Philippines

Parents: Ronald H & Eva A (Dubois)

Siblings: Virginia, Roland H. Jr   
 

Hewitt’s parent came from Iowa and Ill to join Detroit’s growing workforce. His ancestry shows families constantly on the move, from Iowa and Missouri, to Illinois to Litchfield then Detroit. Americans historically are a very mobile bunch always looking for open land and later shifting boom towns for employment. The Fike's lived many years in the 850 sq ft house where they raised their family. Roland Sr. first worked as an auto company metal worker, then was a tinsmith in an adding machine factory. Daughter Virginia worked as a stenographer in the same factory and young Hewitt when he registered for the draft was also at Burroughs Adding Machine Co. I wonder if it was the plant down on Second Avenue that I passed regularly when taking the bus to Wayne State University.

High School 1939

Hewitt graduated from Redford in 1939 and first worked as a grocery store clerk before going to Burroughs. His draft registration was June 29, 1942 when he was 5’7”, 135 lbs with blue eyes and brown hair.

 

 

By October 1942 he is on the Marine Muster Rolls. Oct 1943 finds him on a ship with the 2^nd Bn 8^th Marines. On Dec 26, 1943 the division landed at Cape Gloucester on New Britain. As part of the campaign to secure New Guines the combat on New Britain took place in some of the most rugged terrain anywhere on earth. Clothing, paper, leather – all quickly rotted or fell apart in the intense humidity and heavy rainfall. Weapons and ammunition corroded almost in front of men’s eyes. Marines moved out from the beachhead into the nearly impenetrable jungle to locate and destroy the Japanese defenders. Securing Hill 150, Aogiri Ridge and Hill 660, the division’s infantry regiments secured a lodgment around the landing beaches at Borgen Bay.

 

Hewitt received a Purple Heart.