Bickel, Vincent J

Vincent J. Bickel was born on January 13, 1922 to WIlliam and Regina Bickel who lived in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Vincent attended Phoenixville High School. After high school, Vincent worked at Hubbell’s Bakery. 

Vincent joined the Army in September, 1943. After basic training, he was assigned to the 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division - the same division as heroes Leroy Barnes, William Carey, Walter Ford and James Marinelli.
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The 85th was the second all-draftee division to enter combat during World War II. The division was activated at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in the spring of 1942. They received advanced training in the swamps of Louisiana, and desert training in California.

Vincent’s division arrived overseas at Casablanca, French Morocco, on January 2, 1944 where over the next few months, they received amphibious training. After training, they moved on to Naples, north of the Garigliano River to defend against the Gustav Line - a  heavily fortified German defensive line south of Rome that  virtually grounded the allied forces to a halt. On May 11th, the 85th division launched its attack on the Gustav Line.

Technician 5th Class Vincent J. Bickel was killed in action On May 13, 1944, in Italy. He is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. 

Credits


Researched by: Don Wambold, member WCMSC