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Roy Kirby Rickerson

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Roy Kirby Rickerson

Birth
Bossier City, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, USA
Death
11 Feb 2001 (aged 82)
Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA
Burial
Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) Monday - 6 June 1994 pg33
UNITS BEHIND THE LINES CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS
By Jim Leggett, Staff reporter
Roy Rickerson was operating behind the lines in central France when the invasion of Normandy began, and his OSS (Office of Strategic Services) 15 man team was harassing the Germans and gathering information for the Allies. And OSS statistics show that Rickerson's "LOUISE" action, one of 22 such teams dropped behind the lines, had its impact. It downed 11 power lines, blew up nine bridges (rail & highway) captured two trains including three locomotives and 33 cars and destroyed 16 tanks.
RESCUED 21 AIRMEN
The "LOUISE" was responsible for rescuing 21 downed Allied airmen, killing 461 enemy soldiers, wounding 467 and capturing more than 4,000. That included 3,823 by Rickerson and a corporal through bluff in which Rickerson, who wore captain's bars but was actually a first lieutenant, told a German commander that his forces were surrounded by American and Russion forces. They weren't but the bluff led to surrender. Rickerson smiled and said the idea of the Russian troops came to him when the German commander asked him about them. "I didn't even know the Russians weren't in Russia, but I told them the Russians were in France. I'm no hero. We had very, very few casualties for the type work we were doing. I'd rather do that for one year than be up on the front beaches or up there with flak shooting at me." . . . more . . .
After success in France, he was sent to China and parachuted in there. His assignment would have been to operate behind the lines if the Japanese were to advance toward Mongolia. The war ended before his mission there could be carried out. He got out of the Army after the war and went on to a career with Bancroft Paper Company.
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The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) Monday - 12 February 2001 page 3
ROY KIRBY RICKERSON
Services for Roy Kirby Rickerson will be at 10 am Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with Rev. Roy James and Dr. Henry Blount officiating. Graveside services with burial will be at 3 pm in Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveort, under direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria. Mr. Rickerson, 82, of Alexandria died Sunday, February 11, 2001 in Christlus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Mr. Rickerson was a native of Bossier Parish and had resided in Alexandria for about 40 years. He retired as colonel from the U. S. Army having served as a member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He was awarded the Silver Bar, Bronze Star, European Ribbon with Arrowhead, four battle stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with one arrowhead and two battle stars. During the Korean War he served as a member of the OSS in the Pentagon.

Mr. Rickerson was active in First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, a member of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1736, Oliver Lodge #84 F&AM of Alexandria, York Rite Masonic Bodies, El Karubah Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Shreveport. He also retired as manager and vice president of Bancroft Paper Company.

Mr. Rickerson is survived by his wife:
Alice Cruse Rickerson of Alexandria
His brother:
J. G. Rickerson, Jr. of West Monroe
His one - step-son
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The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) Monday - 6 June 1994 pg33
UNITS BEHIND THE LINES CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS
By Jim Leggett, Staff reporter
Roy Rickerson was operating behind the lines in central France when the invasion of Normandy began, and his OSS (Office of Strategic Services) 15 man team was harassing the Germans and gathering information for the Allies. And OSS statistics show that Rickerson's "LOUISE" action, one of 22 such teams dropped behind the lines, had its impact. It downed 11 power lines, blew up nine bridges (rail & highway) captured two trains including three locomotives and 33 cars and destroyed 16 tanks.
RESCUED 21 AIRMEN
The "LOUISE" was responsible for rescuing 21 downed Allied airmen, killing 461 enemy soldiers, wounding 467 and capturing more than 4,000. That included 3,823 by Rickerson and a corporal through bluff in which Rickerson, who wore captain's bars but was actually a first lieutenant, told a German commander that his forces were surrounded by American and Russion forces. They weren't but the bluff led to surrender. Rickerson smiled and said the idea of the Russian troops came to him when the German commander asked him about them. "I didn't even know the Russians weren't in Russia, but I told them the Russians were in France. I'm no hero. We had very, very few casualties for the type work we were doing. I'd rather do that for one year than be up on the front beaches or up there with flak shooting at me." . . . more . . .
After success in France, he was sent to China and parachuted in there. His assignment would have been to operate behind the lines if the Japanese were to advance toward Mongolia. The war ended before his mission there could be carried out. He got out of the Army after the war and went on to a career with Bancroft Paper Company.
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The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) Monday - 12 February 2001 page 3
ROY KIRBY RICKERSON
Services for Roy Kirby Rickerson will be at 10 am Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with Rev. Roy James and Dr. Henry Blount officiating. Graveside services with burial will be at 3 pm in Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveort, under direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria. Mr. Rickerson, 82, of Alexandria died Sunday, February 11, 2001 in Christlus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Mr. Rickerson was a native of Bossier Parish and had resided in Alexandria for about 40 years. He retired as colonel from the U. S. Army having served as a member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He was awarded the Silver Bar, Bronze Star, European Ribbon with Arrowhead, four battle stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with one arrowhead and two battle stars. During the Korean War he served as a member of the OSS in the Pentagon.

Mr. Rickerson was active in First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, a member of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1736, Oliver Lodge #84 F&AM of Alexandria, York Rite Masonic Bodies, El Karubah Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Shreveport. He also retired as manager and vice president of Bancroft Paper Company.

Mr. Rickerson is survived by his wife:
Alice Cruse Rickerson of Alexandria
His brother:
J. G. Rickerson, Jr. of West Monroe
His one - step-son
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